Will Xbox Live Gold Be the Next "Just Cancel" Nightmare?
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I received an email from Microsoft recently reminding me that my annual Xbox Live Gold membership will be autorenewing soon. Having dabbled with online mulitplayer gaming for almost a year across various games, I've concluded that I don't like it and don't want the Gold membership anymore.
However, to cancel the autorenewal of XLG, you have to call Microsoft; there is no way to do so online. You can sign up online; you can change your credit card online; you just can't cancel online.
Sound familiar?
Keep in mind that the Xbox 360 only recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, so such renewal emails are only just starting to be received and annual memberships are only now being canceled — or attempted to be canceled.
There is one and only one reason to deny subscribers who can enroll online the ability to cancel online: to subject them to the "AOL Effect." How obnoxious will Microsoft representatives be when membership churn starts to materialize?
I for one won't find out: I may have a contract with Microsoft, but I also have a contract with American Express. And that contract entitles me to "pre-block" any future charges from a particular vendor (which was also how I circumvented AOL's sadism many years ago).
Meanwhile, such "roach motel" tactics (i.e., you can check in but you can't check out), and other cancel-hostile subscription policies, are depressingly common:
So, for discussion: Just how "un-libertarian" would it be to suggest a law requiring any company that offers online enrollment for subscription services to also offer online cancellation? How would the Posnerian "law and economics" types likely feel about such a law?
And also feel free to share (online — no phone calls please) your cancellation nightmares in the comments.
However, to cancel the autorenewal of XLG, you have to call Microsoft; there is no way to do so online. You can sign up online; you can change your credit card online; you just can't cancel online.
Sound familiar?
Keep in mind that the Xbox 360 only recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, so such renewal emails are only just starting to be received and annual memberships are only now being canceled — or attempted to be canceled.
There is one and only one reason to deny subscribers who can enroll online the ability to cancel online: to subject them to the "AOL Effect." How obnoxious will Microsoft representatives be when membership churn starts to materialize?
I for one won't find out: I may have a contract with Microsoft, but I also have a contract with American Express. And that contract entitles me to "pre-block" any future charges from a particular vendor (which was also how I circumvented AOL's sadism many years ago).
Meanwhile, such "roach motel" tactics (i.e., you can check in but you can't check out), and other cancel-hostile subscription policies, are depressingly common:
AOLall received "Big Hassle" ratings from PCWorld magazine. EarthLink, Equifax, Flickr, GameSpy, MLB, Netflix and RapidFax received "Some Hassle" ratings.
BlueMountain.com
Classmates.com
ESPN
MSN Internet [sic!]
Napster.com
NetZero
Real Rhapsody
Real SuperPass
True.com
So, for discussion: Just how "un-libertarian" would it be to suggest a law requiring any company that offers online enrollment for subscription services to also offer online cancellation? How would the Posnerian "law and economics" types likely feel about such a law?
And also feel free to share (online — no phone calls please) your cancellation nightmares in the comments.
All Related Posts (on one page) | Some Related Posts:
- Galt's Trench?
- Will Xbox Live Gold Be the Next "Just Cancel" Nightmare?
- Open Thread: Which Game to Buy?...
- Episode I
- Bubbles In Everything: Xbox 360 Update
- Bubbles In Everything: eBay's Xbox 360 Mania
Posted by Kip on
7 January 2007
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