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A comment on Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions – and the costs add up.

Re:Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions ... by nunez on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @04:29PM (#37328568)
I wish more people knew about Privacy.com.

Using these virtual cards has been a life-saver.

Want to try a service for a month that doesn't do free trials? Hit that dark pattern with a single-use Privacy card and let the account lapse.

Want to join a gym but avoid their extremely predatory cancellation process? Boom; Privacy card that shit and term the card when you cancel.

Did you see a cool widget on a site that's notorious for getting pwned? Single use Privacy card that shit (or use Ironvest's Blur Virtual Cards if you want to use a credit card behind the scenes. Slightly more expensive and cumbersome though.)

No monthly subscription shall ever see the last four of my actual cards ever again. Gotta fight fire with fire.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions ... by cvalka on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @04:42PM (#37328788)
In the UK and the EU revolut.com is an alternative.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions ... by ed_mercer on Thursday August 31, 2023 @01:17AM (#37332749)
How is not offering a free trial a “dark pattern”? Companies are free to offer to customers what they see fit. If you don’t like it, you can simply go somewhere else. Also, asking for a credit card up front when doing free trials is a great way to weed out all the fraudsters out there.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions ... by NoZebra120vClip on Thursday August 31, 2023 @02:19AM (#37333161)
Well it was, until people started promoting privacy.com
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Yes, people often forget to cancel monthly subscriptions ... by cooperaustinj on Thursday August 31, 2023 @11:08AM (#37338368)
A free trial with automatic billing at the end is a dark pattern. The non dark pattern would be to get approval from the customer before billing after the free trial ends.
[ Parent | on HN ]