Saying goodbye to subscriptions and services is not always entirely uncomplicated.
A survey of Sweden's consumers shows that several streaming services and newspaper subscriptions require more than ten steps to cancel.
Complicated cancellations pave the way for companies to milk consumers for money. They charge for something that the consumer can do themselves completely free of charge, says Maria Wiezell, consumer guide at Sweden's consumers.
The Dutch company Termination Experts offers subscription cancellation services. But that the service comes at a price has not been clear, according to several customers.
No obligation to pay
So far this year, Termination Experts, which according to DN previously went by the name Bymetis, has been reported to the Consumer Agency 92 times. Counting from July last year, the reports total 371.
Most often, it's about the consumer not having realized that the service costs money, but still received an invoice from the company, says Henric Jonsson, legal advisor at the Consumer Agency.
Some consumers also claim to have received an invoice despite never having used the service.
You have no obligation to pay for something you haven't ordered. And if you've ordered the service without the cost being clear, you're not liable to pay either. In both cases, you should dispute the invoice, says Henric Jonsson.
Must clearly inform
Maria Wiezell believes that this type of service is not illegal, provided that the cost is clearly stated, which Termination Experts has not done according to the many reports to the Consumer Agency.
The problem is also that many end up on these companies' websites by mistake, as they often appear at the top when searching for how to cancel a contract, she says.
Her best advice to consumers who want to cancel subscriptions is to make sure they are on the website of the service they want to cancel.
No service is called anything else when it's time to cancel it.
TT has sought out the company Termination Expert.
