New App launched that cancels subscriptions after free
trial
trial
By Charles Kelly
Author of Yes, Money Can Buy You Happiness and creator of
Money Tips Podcast
Money Tips Podcast
Have you ever signed up for a free trial online and then
forgotten all about it? A year later you realise that you’ve been paying for a
service you didn’t really want. Sometimes, it only comes to light when your credit
card expires!
forgotten all about it? A year later you realise that you’ve been paying for a
service you didn’t really want. Sometimes, it only comes to light when your credit
card expires!
Good news. A young British entrepreneur has launched service
which automatically cancels subscriptions at the end of the free trial period,
the BBC reports.
which automatically cancels subscriptions at the end of the free trial period,
the BBC reports.
The ingenious App was developed by Josh Browder, who in his
teenage years invented an algorithm called ‘Do Not Pay’, which continues to
successfully fight parking fines.
teenage years invented an algorithm called ‘Do Not Pay’, which continues to
successfully fight parking fines.
His latest App, Free Trial Surfing, is not directly linked
to a customer's bank account or credit card, but Mr Browder says it is in
partnership with a major bank. He declined to say which bank was supporting the
venture.
to a customer's bank account or credit card, but Mr Browder says it is in
partnership with a major bank. He declined to say which bank was supporting the
venture.
"The idea for this product came when I realised I was
being charged for a $21.99 (£18) gym membership from over a year ago that I was
never using," he told the BBC.
being charged for a $21.99 (£18) gym membership from over a year ago that I was
never using," he told the BBC.
"In fact, I had completely forgotten that I had signed
up for a free trial in the first place. Constantly trying to keep track of when
a 'free trial' period ends is annoying and time-consuming."
up for a free trial in the first place. Constantly trying to keep track of when
a 'free trial' period ends is annoying and time-consuming."
Ironically, he said 10,000 people had signed up to for a “free
trial” to try Free Trial Surfing since its launch six weeks ago in the US,
where Mr Browder, who is from the UK, now lives.
trial” to try Free Trial Surfing since its launch six weeks ago in the US,
where Mr Browder, who is from the UK, now lives.
The two most common subscriptions the service has been used
for are porn platforms followed by Netflix, he added.
for are porn platforms followed by Netflix, he added.
How does Free Trial Surfing work?
Currently only available on Apple's app store, with a web
version in development, customers are sent a virtual credit card number and
invented name, which they can use to sign up for a service.
version in development, customers are sent a virtual credit card number and
invented name, which they can use to sign up for a service.
The card is actually registered to Mr Browder's firm, Do Not
Pay.
Pay.
The app can also forward emails between the service provider
and the virtual card so that the customer's own email address is secure.
and the virtual card so that the customer's own email address is secure.
Mr Browder says the card will not work if used to pay for
any other form of purchase.
any other form of purchase.
He said some platforms were trying to block the service by
figuring out which cards belong to Do Not Pay.
figuring out which cards belong to Do Not Pay.
"Our bank is so big they would have to screw a lot of
customers to stop the product. They would have to end the entire free-trial
programme," he said.
customers to stop the product. They would have to end the entire free-trial
programme," he said.
He says that one day he may charge a subscription to use the
service, which is currently free.
service, which is currently free.
"It took around six months to build," he said.
"Right now we're testing it - maybe one day it will be
a cheap subscription, like $2 per month.
a cheap subscription, like $2 per month.
"The reason it took so long was that we wanted to be
sure it would be declined if it is used with a real purchase. We won't hold
people to account - it will be us who takes the hit."
sure it would be declined if it is used with a real purchase. We won't hold
people to account - it will be us who takes the hit."
This looks like a brilliant idea, but not sure they have got
the application right just yet.
the application right just yet.
Other business news
Inflation growth slowed sharply in August to 1.7% after
computer game prices dropped and clothing prices were slow to recover from the
summer sales.
computer game prices dropped and clothing prices were slow to recover from the
summer sales.
The Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation fell below
2.1% in July, according to the Office for National Statistics.
2.1% in July, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Word of the Day
CPI - Consumer Prices Index
Consumer Price Indices are important indicators of how the
UK economy is performing.
UK economy is performing.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that
examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods
and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care. It is calculated
by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of
goods and averaging them.
examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods
and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care. It is calculated
by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of
goods and averaging them.
The indices are used in many ways by the government,
businesses, and society in general. They can affect interest rates, tax
allowances, wages, state benefits, pensions, maintenance, contracts and many
other payments. They also show the impact of inflation on family budgets.
businesses, and society in general. They can affect interest rates, tax
allowances, wages, state benefits, pensions, maintenance, contracts and many
other payments. They also show the impact of inflation on family budgets.
There are more
examples and practical steps to getting rich and being happy in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3
R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it
out on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook.
examples and practical steps to getting rich and being happy in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3
R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Check it
out on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook.
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