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Auto-expiring temporary credit card numbers can help automate cancellations after N months, but figuring what shows are on what services and signing up for them

Auto-expiring temporary credit card numbers can help automate cancellations after N months, but figuring what shows are on what services and signing up for them as needed is still a major chore.

redbar0n 4y ago
The Playpilot app helps to get an overview over where (on what streaming services) a movie or show is available.
- dmje 4y ago
  We use JustWatch[0]. It's good for keeping a "want to watch" list and also tells you which of your services has which films at any one time. [0] https://www.justwatch.com/ https://www.justwatch.com/
foobarian 4y ago
Do you have more details? I found that in my case the credit card provider has ways to continue paying for the subscription through the magic of recurring charges that is very difficult to stop (survives credit card cancelation/number changes).
- jesuscript 4y ago
  Right, getting a new card number has nothing to do with the fact that it is the same account. The numbers point to the same account.
  - foobarian 4y ago
    It seems the credit card providers would have an anti-incentive to provide this kind of consumer friendly functionality. Maybe Apple's card does? Any first-hand accounts?
    - lordswork 4y ago
      Capital One's Eno service allows you to generate temporary credit card numbers with a custom expiration date.
ajb 4y ago
The problem with that is that legally, the contract to pay a provider, and the instruction to your credit-card company to pay a recurring amount, are two separate things. Some companies will send threatening letters, dept collectors etc after you if you just cancel the CC instruction. It's different on the apple store, where Apple forced providers to agree that a subscription could be unilaterally cancelled via the store. Ideally we would pass a law so that credit cancellation also cancels a contract as long as the minimum period is over. Not holding my breath though.
- wikfwikf 4y ago
  This would be annoying for people whose credit card just happened to expire and who then have to deal with not having the service for a period, re-signing up, losing loyalty bonuses, etc.
  - 8note 4y ago
    Credit card expiry can have integrations where the merchant automatically gets the updated value
- prepend 4y ago
  > Some companies will send threatening letters, dept collectors etc after you if you just cancel the CC instruction. What companies do this in practice. I think I’ve “ghosted” 300 companies and never had a single even send a threatening letter, much less do anything. Usually I get an email of “error processing your card, please fix or we turn off.” I can’t imagine it is ever economical to pursue in courts over an $11.99/month contract. The exception is gyms that do seem to go to ends of the earth to collect.
  - ajb 4y ago
    Zipcar tried to do it to me once. But it may depend on your jurisdiction as well. I had a colleague who used to get monthly calls from a cable co. He was divorced from his wife, who had set up the cable contract, so they wouldn't let him cancel it but were still convinced that he was liable for the money because it was supplying his house.

Auto-expiring temporary credit card numbers can help automate cancellations after N months, but figuring what shows are on what services and signing up for them as needed is still a major chore.

redbar0n 4y ago

The Playpilot app helps to get an overview over where (on what streaming services) a movie or show is available.

dmje 4y ago
We use JustWatch[0]. It's good for keeping a "want to watch" list and also tells you which of your services has which films at any one time. [0] https://www.justwatch.com/ https://www.justwatch.com/

foobarian 4y ago

Do you have more details? I found that in my case the credit card provider has ways to continue paying for the subscription through the magic of recurring charges that is very difficult to stop (survives credit card cancelation/number changes).

jesuscript 4y ago
Right, getting a new card number has nothing to do with the fact that it is the same account. The numbers point to the same account.
- foobarian 4y ago
  It seems the credit card providers would have an anti-incentive to provide this kind of consumer friendly functionality. Maybe Apple's card does? Any first-hand accounts?
  - lordswork 4y ago
    Capital One's Eno service allows you to generate temporary credit card numbers with a custom expiration date.

ajb 4y ago

The problem with that is that legally, the contract to pay a provider, and the instruction to your credit-card company to pay a recurring amount, are two separate things. Some companies will send threatening letters, dept collectors etc after you if you just cancel the CC instruction. It's different on the apple store, where Apple forced providers to agree that a subscription could be unilaterally cancelled via the store. Ideally we would pass a law so that credit cancellation also cancels a contract as long as the minimum period is over. Not holding my breath though.

wikfwikf 4y ago
This would be annoying for people whose credit card just happened to expire and who then have to deal with not having the service for a period, re-signing up, losing loyalty bonuses, etc.
- 8note 4y ago
  Credit card expiry can have integrations where the merchant automatically gets the updated value
prepend 4y ago
> Some companies will send threatening letters, dept collectors etc after you if you just cancel the CC instruction. What companies do this in practice. I think I’ve “ghosted” 300 companies and never had a single even send a threatening letter, much less do anything. Usually I get an email of “error processing your card, please fix or we turn off.” I can’t imagine it is ever economical to pursue in courts over an $11.99/month contract. The exception is gyms that do seem to go to ends of the earth to collect.
- ajb 4y ago
  Zipcar tried to do it to me once. But it may depend on your jurisdiction as well. I had a colleague who used to get monthly calls from a cable co. He was divorced from his wife, who had set up the cable contract, so they wouldn't let him cancel it but were still convinced that he was liable for the money because it was supplying his house.