Reevaluating Auto Renewal

Order a discounted subscription to an online publication and it will likely be automatically renewed when it runs out — at regular prices. Same thing goes for everything from smartphone apps and cell phone and cable television subscriptions to gym, art and wine club memberships.

Add it all up and you could find yourself spending hundreds of dollars a year, if not more, on things you don’t really need, don’t use or don’t want any more — all because of the automatic renewal practices of many consumer businesses. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Opt Out

Companies take advantage of inertia, requiring consumers who don’t want to renew their memberships or services to opt out because they know many of us won’t take the time to do so.

It’s your money, so the simple solution is to opt out immediately after buying a subscription or service. It’s guaranteed you’ll be reminded repeatedly when your deal expires, and you may even be offered another discounted deal. Often, the later you wait to renew, the better your discount becomes.

Another way to ensure you avoid the automatic renewal trap is to use a credit card that expires before your subscription does. When the time comes, you’ll be informed your card information is out of date, giving you the conscious choice of renewing or not.

Make a Deal

If you don’t take these steps and a vendor renews you for a product you don’t want or at a price that’s too high, call its customer service department. Explain your situation and ask to cancel immediately and receive a refund, if applicable. You may even receive another discounted offer that convinces you to stay a customer.