[pct-l] Warning to SPOT users who don't want to renew

[Jim Keener ( J J )]

You know, Don, many companies offer a choice of auto-renewal. Companies that don't want you to know about it hide the information in legalese. Safety isn't the issue with this practice. Safety can be accommodated without unpleasant surprises. The domain name host I use has the choices just above the purchase button online. Not hard to do. Responsible. Up front. And the auto-renewal box is shown prominently in my administrative profile.

Other companies send renewal notices in advance of cancellation. It's in their interest and in the interest of the consumer. Mutually workable solution. Spot. A communications device provided by a communications company that appears to be lacking in, let's see, communications with their customers on a significant manner. Sneaky? Looks that way to me, given the options available to the company. 

And to me, a telephone is a safety device. I have the option of auto-renewal with the provider. It's up front. Responsible. Certainly not sneaky. 

Many corporations and their customers have excellent, long-term relationships. Mutually respectful. It doesn't appear to be that difficult to achieve.

Walk well,
J J

On Aug 23, 2010, at 9:10 AM, Don Billings wrote:

> Sorry. A safety device is nothing compared to a phone or power bill. 
> 
> Putting your desired cancellation date on the calendar isn't hard to do.
> 
> In the meantime with auto renew, nobody has to worry while in the desert heat or 
> some blizzard... "did I renew SPOT ?"
> 
> But I do agree that some consumer products are annoying with their auto renewal. 
> I've had a couple of
> those renew on me despite my intention to cancel. And, in one case, I contacted 
> them days after they
> charged me and was essentially told, "too late." Just the same, I never 
> considered them sneaky. I 
> 
> was the one at fault.
> 
> Don
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Tortoise <Tortoise73 at charter.net>
> To: Don Billings <dbillings803 at yahoo.com>
> Sent: Sun, August 22, 2010 5:23:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Warning to SPOT users who don't want to renew
> 
> Whether it is sneaky or not depends on how Spot handles the automatic renewal.
> 
> If it is something one has to check yes or no, it is probably not sneaky.
> But if Spot does the auto renewal unless one finds the not-obvious way to 
> opt out, then it is.
> 
> Lots and lots of things can put one at risk -- like not paying your phone 
> or power bill.
> 
> Tortoise
> 
> <> Because truth matters! <>
> 
> On 08/22/10 10:15, Don Billings wrote:
>> I wouldn't call such a thing sneaky.
>> 
>> SPOT is a safety device and to require a manual renewal of the service would,
>> without a doubt,
>> 
>> put some hikers at risk. That is to say, an automatic renewal prevents an
>> unintentional cancellation
>> 
>> of the safety service.
>> 
>> Just mark your calendar to cancel if you aren't sure of retaining the service.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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