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The virtual card trick is underrated as a consumer solution. Create a new card per subscription, delete it when you want to cancel. No dark patterns can survive
by filiphillesland 6mo ago
The virtual card trick is underrated as a consumer solution. Create a new card per subscription, delete it when you want to cancel. No dark patterns can survive that. The problem is it puts the burden on consumers to be technically sophisticated, which most aren't. And the average person shouldn't need a fintech workaround to cancel a gym membership.
- kenmart 6mo agoExactly. Virtual cards are a clever workaround, but the fact that people need a workaround at all is the problem. A consumer protection issue should not depend on whether someone knows the fintech hacks. The baseline should be simple: if it’s easy to sign up, it should be just as easy to cancel. Laws should be aimed at removing the burden from consumers, not rewarding the small slice of people who are technical enough to route around dark patterns.
- monocularvision 6mo agoIn the US, the problem with this as a solution if you had some contract or agreement with the company, simply not paying doesn’t mean you have cancelled that contract. They could continue to bill you, report non-payment to credit bureaus and try to come after you via collections. Many/most won’t do all that but it is something to keep in mind.
- chrisjj 6mo agoSame here in UK.