In an age where subscription services are more popular than ever, many consumers find themselves stuck in a frustrating cycle. Unknowingly enrolled in recurring charges, people are paying for services they no longer use—or worse, didn’t sign up for in the first place. These so-called “subscription traps” are becoming an increasingly common issue, leading to mounting financial stress and consumer complaints. In this article, we’ll explore how six companies keep charging you without consent and what steps you can take to avoid falling into these predatory traps.
Amazon
Amazon Prime, Amazon Alexa, Kindle. This multinational online shop has been a household name since its conception in 1994. However, Amazon has been also been known for its hidden fees within its Amazon Prime service. In 2021, Amazon engaged in a settlement with The European Commission to allow customers in the European Union to easily unsubscribe to Amazon Prime and its services. The issue lies within the clicks. 2 to 3 clicks gets you a subscription with Amazon. According to the Norwegian Consumer Council, it took the user over 7 clicks to unsubscribe from the same Amazon service.
Adobe
The popular editing software, best known for PhotoShop is among the many companies that keep you in the subscription trap. From video to photo editing, this multi-faceted service has a lot to offer to creatives and artists alike, making the software in popular demand in the age of digital media. Recently in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commented on the software saying that upon looking for a subscription with the service the “annual paid monthly” was selected. This limits the consumer’s options to the most expensive option. Because of this, consumers tried to cancel their yearly subscription early, only to be hit with an “early termination” fee.
Apple Store
As the number one phone brand in the world, Apple’s App Store is the hub for all apps needed and wanted on your phone. Many “free” applications that you download have optional subscriptions. Many users start with a “free” trial that ultimately turns into a recurring paid subscription without a clear opt-in process. On top of this Apple has come out with a feature limiting users from downloading any apps on the Apple App Store if these subscriptions are not paid.
Spotify
Music lovers come to Spotify for the endless audio libraries of music, podcasts, and more. Like many online services, a free Spotify account disrupts your playlists and episodes with 1 to 3-minute long advertisements. Consumers then sign up for subscriptions to combat this. However, once the free trial ends, users end up with a recurring payment that had little to no notification. A tactic used to bar customers from canceling the subscription lies in the layers of settings, making it difficult to end.
Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh is a meal prep weekly subscription service that makes the everyday person’s life easier with ready-to-cook meal kits. Their canceling services are not so easy. When customers receive their weekly meals but want to skip a week, they are still charged. This persistent scheduling allows charges to continue to pile up and fees to recur.
Care.com
If a babysitter is what you need, Care.com is where to look. Providing a user experience similar to an e-commerce shop or a dating app to find the right caregiver. Care provides multiple services to list jobs, apply to jobs, and hire. Despite the site being so popular, the FTC launched an investigation, only to find that Care.com used an exaggerated number of “available jobs” that was used to lure more site traffic, increasing the company’s revenue. The FTC also found that they “used deceptive design practices to trap consumers in subscriptions” that couldn’t easily be canceled.
Take Back Control Over Your Subscriptions
The best way to avoid losing money to subscription traps is by being proactive. Whether you’re dealing with Spotify, Amazon, or any other service, the key is to monitor your subscriptions regularly and act swiftly to cancel services you no longer need. There are many tools that can help you keep track of all your subscriptions, prevent unwanted charges, and take control of your digital spending.