Continuity Trick?

Scott Ames · 11-13-2009, 06:55 AM

So I put in a help desk ticket to cancel a continuity site that was ok, but I didn't like it as well as another, which I kept. I'm thinking everything is done. I get this reply. (edited of course)

Quote:

Sorry to hear you want to cancel. I know it can be frustrating just starting out.

As you know - we are always here to help you in the Support Desk if you get stuck with any of the weekly step-by-step training.

Every month you remain a member you are getting blah blah blah

But not to worry - if you are still thinking of cancelling please watch this short video '

I'm still thinking my request stands. You guessed it, I was charged the next month. The ticket was closed.

Now I'm in battle mode. I hate this kind of thing. I wasn't THINKING of cancelling, I DID.

I hope you are not thinking of using this tactic.

Fernando Veloso · 11-13-2009, 07:05 AM

Lame. But some IMers prefer to do business this way. They are losing money with some people, but some others choose to not discuss it and keep on paying...

Too bad we can't expose them right here.

seasoned · 11-13-2009, 07:07 AM

Yeah, TYPICAL!

I'm actually in one "continuity" thing now. I KNEW what I was getting into, but was curious. I ALREADY got some harassing calls. NOT to sell, etc... but to PUSH things along, and probably to "upsell". I never let it get very far.

Oh well, I probably WILL cancel. For once, I actually SAVED the paper(which most don't even give you a choice) that said I must use a certain code to cancel.

If you cancel, and they continue, just CHARGE BACK! Of course, the LAST time I kept getting things I DIDN'T order, the bank refused to not honor them. I had to keep doing chargebacks for MONTHS! Had it continued past that year, I probably would have dragged them through the media, and taken them to court, OH, AND called the credit card company(one step above the bank), the banking commission, the FTC, and the AG.

BTW you know the certain scams that popped up all of the sudden, like the ACAI scam? They are ****ALL**** "continuity" scams! I'm not saying continuity is a scam, but many scams lately ARE continuity based.

Steve

VegasGreg · 11-13-2009, 07:20 AM

I have seen the "Wait, stay a member for less money", but not the think about canceling approach.

I don't like it. That is why I rarely join monthly programs that are not Paypal, so I can just cancel my subscription whenever I want to.

Scott Ames · 11-13-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

I have seen the "Wait, stay a member for less money", but not the think about canceling approach.

I don't like it. That is why I rarely join monthly programs that are not Paypal, so I can just cancel my subscription whenever I want to.

Agreed. As a consumer I love the PayPal cancel feature. As a marketer, not as much.

Its ok to try to get the subscriber to stick, but the default should be cancel if you don't hear back on a "Wait, .... " message. In their defense perhaps that is the default and they have a glitch. Its possible. I'm not happy that I have to deal with it though. If people are going to put up a membership site, they had dang well better pay attention to cancel requests and get it right.

Scott Ames · 11-13-2009, 02:32 PM

Ok... I WAS a trick.. I'm pissed and I'm not doing business with this guy again.

Quote:

As you can see in this ticket - we replied on the same date you submitted it by offering you support and gave you a link to a video made for people that want to cancel. In the video you were told that if you still wanted to cancel after watching - all you needed to do was reply to the original ticket.

You didn't reply, so we didn't cancel your account at that time.

I have now canceled your account, refunded this months billing charges and you won't be charged anything in the future.

I had to watch the freaking video to cancel? Where in the sales page did it ever mention that??

AmyBrown · 11-13-2009, 02:36 PM

Wow, just wow... That response would inspire me to post a few reviews in relevant places

Scott Ames · 11-13-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmyBrown

Wow, just wow... That response would inspire me to post a few reviews in relevant places

Agreed. This is the kind of thing the FTC loves.

11-13-2009, 07:05 AM	#2
Fernando Veloso Portuguese Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Good Old Europe Posts: 3,488 Blog Entries: 6 Thanks: 1,311 Thanked 810 Times in 556 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Continuity Trick? Lame. But some IMers prefer to do business this way. They are losing money with some people, but some others choose to not discuss it and keep on paying... Too bad we can't expose them right here.
	Portugal Internet Marketing Since 2004. Fernando Veloso \| Seo Portugal \| Empresa SEO

11-13-2009, 07:07 AM	#3
seasoned Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: , , USA. Posts: 11,102 Thanks: 1,444 Thanked 742 Times in 645 Posts	Re: Continuity Trick? Yeah, TYPICAL! I'm actually in one "continuity" thing now. I KNEW what I was getting into, but was curious. I ALREADY got some harassing calls. NOT to sell, etc... but to PUSH things along, and probably to "upsell". I never let it get very far. Oh well, I probably WILL cancel. For once, I actually SAVED the paper(which most don't even give you a choice) that said I must use a certain code to cancel. If you cancel, and they continue, just CHARGE BACK! Of course, the LAST time I kept getting things I DIDN'T order, the bank refused to not honor them. I had to keep doing chargebacks for MONTHS! Had it continued past that year, I probably would have dragged them through the media, and taken them to court, OH, AND called the credit card company(one step above the bank), the banking commission, the FTC, and the AG. BTW you know the certain scams that popped up all of the sudden, like the ACAI scam? They are **ALL** "continuity" scams! I'm not saying continuity is a scam, but many scams lately ARE continuity based. Steve

11-13-2009, 07:20 AM	#4
VegasGreg Greg Schueler War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,101 Thanks: 193 Thanked 398 Times in 292 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Continuity Trick? I have seen the "Wait, stay a member for less money", but not the think about canceling approach. I don't like it. That is why I rarely join monthly programs that are not Paypal, so I can just cancel my subscription whenever I want to.
	Greg Schueler - Wordpress Fanatic... Offline Marketing Rockstar... Caribbean All Inclusive \| Travel Guides \| 4 UR Health

11-13-2009, 02:36 PM	#7
AmyBrown HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Left Coast, USA Posts: 477 Thanks: 250 Thanked 165 Times in 112 Posts	Re: Continuity Trick? Wow, just wow... That response would inspire me to post a few reviews in relevant places
	"Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast." Tom Peters