D_Blackwell - 2:38 am on Sep 28, 2006 (gmt 0)

I don't feel comfortable with auto-renewals but if done right.....

I despise many/most auto-renewals, and especially the way many are handled; certainly any that are rolled over on a 6 or 12 month basis. I do allow, on a case by case basis, selected monthly auto-renewals, provided that I am not gouged for the 'privilege' of renewing monthly; in part, because it is easier for me to auto-renew things that I simply wish to retain each month; plus it's much easier to keep an eye on a monthly renewal and make the decision to let it continue, or to pull the plug. If your customers will go for a monthly renewal, that might be the way to 'do it right'. They constantly have the option of giving your content the thumbs up - or not. Of course, that is the last thing that most 'elective' services want to risk!

I will no longer tolerate an auto renewal on a 6 - 12 term - for anything. Can't remember that last one that I saw that was handled well. Typically, the longer the term, the lower the ethics. If the service is valuable enough to me, I will renew. If not.....

The best yearly account that I subscribe to makes a big, big deal out of how they absolutely will not auto-renew. The login screen has the date of expiration, and I see it at every login. I love this!

The last terrible service that I looked into had only a 12 month option, and automatically cutoff service the moment of cancellation, and it was a whole lot of trouble to drag this out of them.

On the whole, porn services probably come the closest to getting it right, having learned the most from doing things wrong and having a deservedly terrible reputation to overcome. Cancellation processes are typically easy to find, easy to use, and even if the user goes and cancels the service the very next day, they still get the benefit of the full term for which they paid.