OMG I discovered a subscription I didnt know I had

46 replies
Call me sloppy, but I have been charged every month since Nov 2007 for a subscription site that I've never seen until today. The only way I discovered it was by looking through my statements and trying to understand who was charging me for something each month. I had to Google the name to get a clue.

Have you ever done this?


I suppose I signed up for a trial at one time or downloaded something that had a subscription attached. I really don't remember.
#discovered #omg #subscription
  • Profile picture of the author Todd Walker
    Dude... last year I cancelled 13 membership sites that i paid an accumulation of $4,700 for the year, and I had no idea ....

    Those damn $1 trials
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
      Originally Posted by Todd Walker View Post

      Dude... last year I cancelled 13 membership sites that i paid an accumulation of $4,700 for the year, and I had no idea ....

      Those damn $1 trials
      Yikes! I feel better now.
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      Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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      • Profile picture of the author Todd Walker
        Talk about bad management HA!

        Last year I took on a consultant that looked at my business, my statements, and he was just like, Todd what is all this crap for $390 per month!

        I was just like, you know business expenses, hosting, and stuff...

        Wound up I was apart of 5 PLR memberships... 3 stock image memberships... a membership about memberships, Elance membership, and three random memberships... (porn)... haha just kidding
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      • Profile picture of the author Solidsnake
        Banned
        This is really disappointing... This is the reason why I am not using CC on my online activities anymore...
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      • Profile picture of the author bryce
        Haha, I have recently done the same thing, and there were 4 of them. The thing I found the most frustrating was the fact that 2 of the 4 were very vague, even at Paypal, and needed a bit of investigation as to who they were. 1 of the four managed to convince me (at least temporarily) not to cancel, and the 4th was able to be cancelled straight away.

        Think about the people that must do this, and midway through, change computers, without backing up old data

        Anyway in a way it was a good thing, and I suppose from every bad thing, a good thing is born, "It created an idea for abrand new product". I had shelved the idea for at least a week ir two because of other projects, but if anyone on this thread (Warrior to Warrior) is interested PM me and maybe we can share workload and rewards I think it will be a very cool product!!

        Bryce
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      • Profile picture of the author Tamer
        Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

        Yikes! I feel better now.
        Me too!
        Last year I *LOST* $670 signed up for 2 FREE months, then forgot to cancel (and I even forgot that I've signed up)...
        Then 10 months later I discovered that I've been charged $67/month!
        (after the 2 months free period).

        Am not upset from anyone but myself! :rolleyes:

        Tamer
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        • Profile picture of the author nobodyspecial
          Originally Posted by timtim2500 View Post

          Me too!
          Last year I *LOST* $670 signed up for 2 FREE months, then forgot to cancel (and I even forgot that I've signed up)...
          Then 10 months later I discovered that I've been charged $67/month!
          (after the 2 months free period).

          Am not upset from anyone but myself! :rolleyes:

          Tamer
          Simple solution:

          Go to your local grocery store and buy $25/50/100 VISA/MC gift cards. Use these to purchase items that have forced continuity you don't care for or from sites you don't want to entrust with your real cc number.

          If the purchase is $97 plus $47/month continuity *which you don't want* use a 100.00 gift card.

          Do not abuse this and purchase stuff you don't intend to pay for. That is fraud and is stealing.
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          • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
            Originally Posted by nobodyspecial View Post

            Simple solution:

            Go to your local grocery store and buy $25/50/100 VISA/MC gift cards. Use these to purchase items that have forced continuity you don't care for or from sites you don't want to entrust with your real cc number.

            If the purchase is $97 plus $47/month continuity *which you don't want* use a 100.00 gift card.

            Do not abuse this and purchase stuff you don't intend to pay for. That is fraud and is stealing.
            Huh.. never heard of those. Excellent idea.
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            Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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        • Profile picture of the author Greg Cooksley
          Hey Scott,

          What a timely thread....

          I've just been checking up and canceling quite a few....

          These forced continuity schemes catch you out if you don't keep
          tabs on them.....

          And from what I've seen so far, these hard-copy monthly reports
          are actually not worth the paper they're printed on. The information
          is very superficial and you can get much more from the forum
          right here!!!!

          Regards

          Greg
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        • Profile picture of the author Greg Cooksley
          Hey Scott,

          What a timely thread....

          I've just been checking up and canceling quite a few....

          These forced continuity schemes catch you out if you don't keep
          tabs on them.....

          And from what I've seen so far, these hard-copy monthly reports
          are actually not worth the paper they're printed on. The information
          is very superficial and you can get much more from the forum
          right here!!!!

          Regards

          Greg
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        • Profile picture of the author Greg Cooksley
          Hey Scott,

          What a timely thread....

          I've just been checking up and canceling quite a few....

          These forced continuity schemes catch you out if you don't keep
          tabs on them.....

          And from what I've seen so far, these hard-copy monthly reports
          are actually not worth the paper they're printed on. The information
          is very superficial and you can get much more from the forum
          right here!!!!

          Regards

          Greg
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      • Profile picture of the author Tuzic
        Banned
        hi,


        you should always be careful & check everything on your accounts & you never know how much you will be paying out before its too late.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew Dillon
    I think we have all done the same thing before and maybe we still are and don't know it. I will be right back just going to check my accounts. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author pwebbiz
    Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

    Call me sloppy, but I have been charged every month since Nov 2007 for a subscription site that I've never seen until today. The only way I discovered it was by looking through my statements and trying to understand who was charging me for something each month. I had to Google the name to get a clue.

    Have you ever done this?


    I suppose I signed up for a trial at one time or downloaded something that had a subscription attached. I really don't remember.
    Scott,

    Send the bill to Mike Filsaime - that's the cost of forced continuity

    ....
    .....
    hahahahah sorry - I couldn't resist!

    Michael
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
      Ok.. I can't be too smug. I just found two more subscriptions that I didn't know I had. Holy smokes.

      pwebbiz : Do you think Mike would pay ?
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      Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Molano
      Damn... now you got me thinking, time to check everything...
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      • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
        That happened to me. I signed up for something for 1 month (or so I thought). I never even went back to the stupid site. Looooooooooooong time later I realized I was being charged for it all this time.
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        • Profile picture of the author 2bwealthy
          yeap. paid $50 a month for a year and didnt even know it. until I went through the cc bills and thought "what is this?". $600 mistake.
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          • Profile picture of the author samcarson
            Me too. Cancelled a couple recently costing $50 a month
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            • Profile picture of the author kevinw1
              When I sign up for one of these trials, a note goes into my tickler file for about 25 days later, to check and see if I want to continue, and cancel if not.

              But even without that, don't you guys balance your CC/Paypal accounts? Check the statements? Keep the books for your businesses?

              I've heard that people do this, but I found it hard to believe. Now I believe. Time to set up some more membership sites
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              • Profile picture of the author Lance K
                Originally Posted by kevinw1 View Post

                Time to set up some more membership sites

                Can I get an AMEN?!?!

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                "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
                ~ Zig Ziglar
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                • Profile picture of the author Michael Silvester
                  Damn...I keep getting charged month after month by
                  this company called Hostgator?

                  Anyone heard of them?

                  Take Care,

                  Michael Silvester
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                  • Profile picture of the author Asher
                    Heh, Frank Kern talked about this and he said this in one of his videos "works like a charm"... Guess it did!

                    Asher
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                    • Profile picture of the author Jelasco
                      Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are signing up for?
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                      • Profile picture of the author Michael Lee
                        Originally Posted by Jelasco View Post

                        Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are signing up for?

                        I guess people are just too busy (or too rich) nowadays to even notice what they are buying.
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                        • Profile picture of the author Elliott
                          Would anyone like to subscribe to my "Subscription Reminder Service"? You register your subscriptions in your account, and every month you get a reminder of the subscriptions you have and the date you subscribed etc.

                          I have done this too, and have a general policy now of buying only lifetime subscriptions. If it doesn't interest me enough to spring for that, then I don't need it. I make exceptions, but very few. Also, I leave the $1 trial offers alone....

                          And usually, if I can't use Paypal, I just won't subscribe, because Paypal centralizes them all and makes it easy to review and cancel them.

                          Elliott
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                          • Profile picture of the author mun
                            I've been on an E book aquiring rampage. I better pay more atention or else I'll be selling my clothes to pay bills.
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                          • Profile picture of the author Tony M.
                            Originally Posted by Elliott View Post

                            And usually, if I can't use Paypal, I just won't subscribe, because Paypal centralizes them all and makes it easy to review and cancel them.

                            Elliott
                            Where's that feature in Paypal ?

                            Also, as a business, is there a feature that would allow me to see all of my curent subscribers ?
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                            • Profile picture of the author Jermaine Tabor
                              I've done this several times but
                              not for more than 2 or 3 months.

                              Definitely need to get into
                              membership sites since I've
                              sent well over 100k in sales
                              to one.
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                              • Profile picture of the author bauger
                                lol
                                I have done this too after looking at my paypal or even my credit card statements.
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                                • Profile picture of the author kuterdan
                                  Yes those trial offers can get you. I've been caught like that before myself. The best thing to do is after you sign up is to immediately go to the processing company website and cancel right away. Also look for the trial offer from other sites that might be automatically checked during the checkout process. Be careful with the site that you give your credit card information to. There has been an increase in fraud by others getting a hold of your card information and charging bogus fees. zeldasupport and downloadavail are a couple to name a few.

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                      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                        Originally Posted by Jelasco View Post

                        Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are signing up for?
                        Well, everyone changes deals, etc... without even any notification! It isn't really legal, but FEW care, and others have little vague disclaimers in their contracts, etc.... That is probably ANOTHER reason paypal keeps chuging along! You get use to some differences, etc...

                        Until I was in my mid twenties, I kept MENTAL records to practically the PENNY! Until my thirties, about $100. Until my fourties perhaps $1000. And that was PER ACCOUNT, and I kept getting more accounts. Of course, I also had a handle on the approximate total, and kept some control over that. NOW, I check things twice a month, and keep things to about $1000 over all. I check each CC site, and even my credit report. With the crash and all, you can bet I check two of my biggest investments constantly.

                        When Chase LIED to me, and did a hard inquiry on my account, I found out two DAYS later that they did so through "first usa"!

                        Steve
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                • Profile picture of the author GuruGazette
                  Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

                  Can I get an AMEN?!?!

                  Oh Yeah!! Quick guys! What can I sell ya?? []
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              • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
                Originally Posted by kevinw1 View Post


                But even without that, don't you guys balance your CC/Paypal accounts? Check the statements? Keep the books for your businesses?

                I've heard that people do this, but I found it hard to believe. Now I believe. Time to set up some more membership sites
                I have this argument with my sister all the time. She is a banker and she balances her checkbook each month. She knows where every penny goes. She can't understand anyone that doesn't pay attention to details.

                It's a personality type. I am distracted by everythng. I hate keeping books and pay someone to do it. I mostly look at the big picture rather than each little thing. Continuity programs love people like me.
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                Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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                • Profile picture of the author Lance K
                  Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

                  I have this argument with my sister all the time. She is a banker and she balances her checkbook each month. She knows where every penny goes. She can't understand anyone that doesn't pay attention to details.
                  My wife's a CPA so she does the bean counting.
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                  "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
                  ~ Zig Ziglar
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                  • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
                    Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

                    My wife's a CPA so she does the bean counting.
                    You are lucky there. Everyone needs a bean counter on their team especially if they are not prone to count them.

                    Accounting to me is like slow torture.
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                    Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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  • Profile picture of the author Yogini
    I just cancelled hosting today that was billed quarterly and the domain expired last December! I guess I didn't study my cc statement too well.
    Another host had tried to rebill me but fortunately that cc card had expired so it didn't go through.

    Deb
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  • Profile picture of the author dbarnum
    I'm with Kim. Wait until your credit card expires and see what calls and emails you get. You'll be surprised Been there, done that
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Mansell
    This is a classic example of the 5% taking action rule.

    Only 5% of your customers will take advantage of what they purchase.
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Ma
    Yeh, I can relate.

    It happened to me once, but only for one month at $29.95

    One piece of advise, write a list of your subscription payment
    and stick the paper on the wall visible at your workplace, I'm
    not kidding, failing to do this can really cost you. Especially
    if you join the FREE first month trial with 3 - 5 different memberships
    at once. You may ask me, why in the hell would you join so
    many different memberships free trial at once. Well, if you
    had bought the STSE 2, and you want to claim the bonus,
    you will know what I mean. I claimed all of the bonuses,
    so I have to be very careful to keep track of all the forced
    continuity and make well sure that I ONLY stay on them
    if I really get to digest and apply their info in the membership,
    otherwise, cancel at once!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
      I thought that I had undertaken a complete clear out, about six months ago. That short exercise saved a lot of money - to spend else where - of course.

      Last week though, I got a message from a processor telling me that my "bank" had refused their annual charge for my subscription to a service and could I please update my credit card details.

      I'll have to look into that latest one - when I have time!

      Regards,
      Jeff Henshaw.
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  • Profile picture of the author Angela V. Edwards
    I would hate to think that any of my customers were paying each month without realizing what the product was or getting the full benefit of it. If they don't use it (by choice or time contraints or what have you), that's their choice. But I don't want them charged unknowingly.

    Can't you set up your Paypal account so that all your notificactions go to a particular email? I know you can have more than one email address attached to your Paypal account. If you did this and then set up the Paypal widget (the software that lets you used Paypal even on sites where Paypal isn't accepted) for all "membership sites" or $1 trials or what have you then you could check that email box for subscription payment notifications on a regular basis. They probably wouldn't get by you this way. People are losing a ton of money on membership sites they didn't know they were paying for.
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  • Profile picture of the author tamilseo
    the only subscription i forget is for one hosting account, i signed for the one domain and forget it.after 1 year i canceled it, not much it is only $5 per month
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