(no subject)

[coraa]

Dear Rhapsody,

I decided that I didn't like you and didn't want anything to do with you when I discovered how difficult you made it to unsubscribe. Not only was there no automated or online way to unsubscribe—and yes, I do know that that's true for a lot of companies, not just you, but I still don't like it—but you argued with me when I called to unsub, and then, mysteriously, even after my call I still wound up getting charged.

Fortunately for me, the card I'd subscribed on expired, and I got out that way. Muahahaha. I was so annoyed with you that I took positive evil glee in the plaintive 'please log in and update your credit card info!' e-mails I got from you. And you'd think that would be, you know, a problem: you don't want your customers, both current customers and past customers who have, you know, an Internet connection and a blog and a bone to pick, to be filled with unholy glee when you're inconvenienced.

So now you are getting no more of my money, and I will cheerfully tell this tale to anyone who seems to be thinking of signing up for Rhapsody.

But now, oh, now I'm still getting your stupid e-mail newsletters, despite having attempted to use the unsubscribe link a grand total of five times over the past few months.

You are behaving not only like an unethical business but also like a spammer, and I will be marking all further Rhapsody e-mails as spam accordingly. I don't know if my doing so will have any impact on GMail's larger e-mail filtering (and I kind of suspect it won't), but here's another sign that you are not behaving usefully toward your current and past customers: I seriously hope it does impact GMail's filters and inconvenience you more. Because you surely did not care much about inconveniencing me.

And I'll be telling my friends. (Which I guess is what I'm doing now.)

No love,

C

Comments

[oyceter]

OMG they charged me for MONTHS when I got them years ago because they made it just that hard to unsubscribe. SO MUCH HATE. I hope all your efforts to inconvenience them more work.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Sounds like someone is a prime candidate for a negative BBB report and a contested charge with the credit card company...

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. The problem is that conflict takes a lot of spoons for me, and it wasn't worth the spoons, especially since a) they had a history of arguing with me over things, and b) I'm not paying them any more anyway.

But a letter to the BBB would take comparatively little social energy, so that I could do.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

I recall you mentioning your aversion to conflict (which I can totally understand), in addition to your dislike of phones.

That said, the one time my MiL has had to dispute a recurrent charge like this -- with eMusic, as it happens, a different but equally scammy music provider -- the credit card company was nothing but helpful, and did not question it. Really, the only thing you should have to provide is a signed statement that you have made an effort in good faith to terminate your account with the company. The burden of proof rests on them.

This is certainly something I didn't know prior to witnessing the process, and I'm trying to spread the word. Hopefully, if more people know how painless the process is, fewer corporate ripoff artists would get away with this sort of behaviour.

(obligatory YMMV note: I don't know who your credit card issuer is, and the MiL might have just gotten a particularly helpful CSR)

[donaithnen.livejournal.com]

This is especially useful to hear since some people have been making a big deal about how Rhapsody became available as an Android App a couple days ago. I was actually vaguely curious about them before reading this. Thank you! :)

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Yay! Glad I could help.

A lot of companies make it hard to unsubscribe, but this was ridiculous.

[donaithnen.livejournal.com]

And also experiencing evil glee that you potentially deprived them of a little more income? ;)

[2gouda4u.livejournal.com]

I, uh, actually like Rhapsody. But then, because I like it, I've never tried to unsubscribe, so *shrug*. Even before the Android app, I found it very useful, since I have an MP3 player compatible with Rhapsody. It's totally been worth it to me for that. Android is a pleasant bonus :-)

[jmpava.livejournal.com]

You are certainly allowed to like it if it turns out to be something you actually find useful. ;->

[coraa.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, for the brief time I used the service, I had no problems with it. My problems didn't start until I tried to stop using it (and stop getting my card billed). So if you're enjoying it, more power to you.