Why I'm Mad at My Web Registration Company

Yesterday I got two emails from two different annual-subscription websites. Both were about using the credit card number I'd given them to get my money.

The first, from gootodo.com, was a politely worded and pleasant reminder that tomorrow they're going to charge me another $18 for another six months. They included simple instructions for exporting my information in case I decide not to continue my paid account.

The second, from a Web registration and hosting company, notified me that they had — the day before — charged me $50 to auto renew a Web forwarding feature that I haven't been using and didn't want.  (I know, my fault, I should have turned off the automatic renewal. On the other hand, when I turned off auto forwarding, nine months ago, I assumed that a service I'd canceled and stopped using wouldn't automatically renew itself. Bad assumption.)

I'd like to believe that the high-road strategy will work better on the long run.

On the other hand, I canceled my gootodo account today, and the other company has my money now for another year. That makes me wonder.

Comments

  • Tim Berry says:

    @Ronn, no, you're not at all confused, the apparent contradiction you note is there. Paradox makes the world go round. If I were a better manager of personal affairs I'd make a point out of getting my money back, as Peter suggested in the comment above yours. It seems however like I'm always too far behind, too much to do, and not following up.

    Am I alone in that? That's why I finished with "makes me wonder."

    Thanks for the comment. Tim

  • Ronn says:

    Apparently, I am a little confused. The company that did the right thing got punished and the company that did the wrong thing got rewarded.

    What's the message here?

  • Peter Lucash says:

    I wouldn't assume this – particularly since a credit card is being used. Call the other company today and cancel the service and the charge. They'll probably do it without a problem – in fact, there may be a grace period already built into the agreement. McAfee, for example, has a 30 day cancellation clause, which always seemed reasonable (and McAfee sends a notice in advance).

  • Click and Inc says:

    A lot of companies have payment plans like this. Good article though and hope things work out.

  • Chris Adragna says:

    Tim, you're still right. Maintain the high road and the long-term success is better. We proved it with my business (recently sold), operate by "The Golden Rule" and things will snowball positively.

Leave a Reply to Chris Adragna Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *