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[remember_spinal]

Finally, after years of consumers spending eyewatering amounts of money on unused services, the UK government is investigating the practice of auto-renewing subscriptions. And now, Xbox is already pledging to make changes to how it handles subscriptions of its Live and Game Pass services. It says that it will reach out to inactive users to remind them that they are paying into these subscriptions, and will even cancel payments if they go unused for some time.

The Competition and Markets Authority, a UK government agency, is specifically honing in on auto-renewal on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, rather than the practice at large. The consumer law investigation kicked off in 2019, but an update earlier today reveals that it has had correspondence with Microsoft, and the studio has promised to make improvements to its subscription services.

One of the biggest changes is refunds - and proper refunds this time. Anyone on 12-month contracts will be offered a refund even after renewal, and will get their money back in proportion to how much time they had left on the subscription (so not the full amount).

Microsoft will also get into contact with players who haven't used their subscriptions in some time, and will automatically cancel them if they continue to go unused.

 

[ZehDon]

Excellent news for UK gamers.

 

[captainraincoat]

Excellent news for UK gamers.

I thought Uk gamers only buy their games in boxes

 

[Kenshin775]

Hey that is good. I should probably cancel some of my subscriptions i dont even use.

It may slightly lower MS sub count but not in any meaningful way. They are on track for 60-65 million Gamepass subs by early 2023 when the deal is done(assuming Battle.net 26 million subs gets folded into Gamepass)

 

[Concern]

Im guessing someone was hoping for "awww fuck why does ms have to refund them?" replies lol

 

[Chris_Rivera]

 

[Excess]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

 

[ParaSeoul]

I thought Uk gamers only buy their games in boxes

*PS5 gamers

PlayStation 5 Owners Reportedly Prefer Boxed Games to Digital Ones

A new report from Global Sales Data suggests that PlayStation 5 owners prefer to purchase physical games over their digital counterparts.

gamerant.com

 

[remember_spinal]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

 

[adamsapple]

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

The ol "I'm definitely gonna utilize that Gym membership next month" .

 

[Excess]

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

Is this satire?

 

[ZehDon]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

How about companies stop automatically setting up renewing subscriptions after trial periods? If I sign up for a trial, and I don't specifically opt in for automatic renewal, we should be done until I specifically say otherwise.

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

Hard to argue with this, frankly. I love Game Pass as much as the next fellow, but fuck I hate this auto-renewing subscription as standard BS.

 

[Kagey K]

How about companies stop automatically setting up renewing subscriptions after trial periods? If I sign up for a trial, and I don't specifically opt in for automatic renewal, we should be done until I specifically say otherwise.

Hard to argue with this, frankly. I love Game Pass as much as the next fellow, but fuck I hate this auto-renewing subscription as standard BS.

Pretty sure you have to manually set up auto renew on Xbox. It will ask you if you want to set it up when you first subscribe though.

 

[adamsapple]

Pretty sure you have to manually set up auto renew on Xbox. It will ask you if you want to set it up when you first subscribe though.

Yes. Can confirm as I did some topping off on the GPU recently.

It is not enabled automatically, the service asks for the users consent to do so.

 

[Metnut]

Would be a huge blow to Microsoft’s business model if this happens in the US.

 

[ZehDon]

Pretty sure you have to manually set up auto renew on Xbox. It will ask you if you want to set it up when you first subscribe though.

It's been a long time since I've set up a trial, but I specifically remember getting billed for Xbox Live for a few extra months midway through last gen because I used a 3 month Trial Card, and it just moved over into automatic renewal. If that's different now, then that's a good move.

 

[adamsapple]

It's been a long time since I've set up a trial, but I specifically remember getting billed for Xbox Live for a few extra months midway through last gen because I used a 3 month Trial Card, and it just moved over into automatic renewal. If that's different now, then that's a good move.

You may have given it permission to auto renew and forgot about it.

 

[Kagey K]

Would be a huge blow to Microsoft’s business model if this happens in the US.

Yep from 25 million to 5 subscribers because nobody actually finds value in it.

Just me and my 4 friends left on it.

 

[NahaNago]

The ol "I'm definitely gonna utilize that Gym membership next month" .

You got me wondering if I'm still paying for planet fitness

 

[Hawking Radiation]

want to punish MS? take Activision away

 

[ReBurn]

How do people not know where their money is going?

 

[dwish]

Hey that is good. I should probably cancel some of my subscriptions i dont even use.

It may slightly lower MS sub count but not in any meaningful way. They are on track for 60-65 million Gamepass subs by early 2023 when the deal is done(assuming Battle.net 26 million subs gets folded into Gamepass)

Battle.net is not sub. WoW yes but Battle.net no

 

[Chris_Rivera]

How do people not know where their money is going?

By not wanting to face their spending habits.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

How do people not know where their money is going?

That's funny, it seems every cable tv and cell phone company keeps people on auto-renew and the gov never looks into whether someone is still using the service.

Too many lazy fucks in life who dont want to take 5 minutes to skim their online bills and see if there's any recurring charges worth cancelling. So the gov has to get involved to help solve their customer/company purchase agreement. Funny thing is I bet some of them do notice it, but are still too lazy to cancel.

Babysit Nation.

 

[nikolino840]

Is for...dead people?

 

[Warablo]

Every damn trial is banking on this practice of you not knowing it auto renews and you have to manually go in and cancel it.

 

[BigBooper]

The refunds are good. The babysitting of morons is sad, but hey, lots of people are morons.

 

[Robb]

Sounds like a good thing.

 

[jigglet]

This is a good thing for companies.

I hesitate signing up to new subscription services cause I always get busy and forget to unsubscribe.

I can tell you now I would be signing up to way more services if I knew I never had to worry about manually going in there and disabling it.

 

[nikolino840]

This is a good thing for companies.

I hesitate signing up to new subscription services cause I always get busy and forget to unsubscribe.

I can tell you now I would be signing up to way more services if I knew I never had to worry about manually going in there and disabling it.

You can do It in your couch with the controller... Is in italian..but you can can disable the auto renew or delete the subscription

 

[SenjutsuSage]

This isn't about Microsoft and Game Pass for the record, but ALL subscription services, even netflix and sony ps plus. Microsoft simply responded to say they would respect what's happening and take a look at it.

 

[Neff]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

Sony got me with my first PS Plus sub. The auto-renewal wasn't at all obvious at the time (no idea if it still is) and I'm sure the fact that they didn't go out of their way to point it out has worked in their favour more than once.

Every damn trial is banking on this practice of you not knowing it auto renews and you have to manually go in and cancel it.

Pretty much. The margin they make on forgotten subs I would imagine is substantial.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

I normally cancel these things in time. But I cant lie, I been charged for shit I havent used for a long time.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Portal turret
Are you still there?

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

Can start subscription by clicking on website
Only way to stop subscription is by sending a letter through snail mail

Fuck corporations.

 

[Chukhopops]

I don’t think that will change much since you have to be inactive for “a long time”. This most likely means an email after +/- 90 days and deactivation after six months or so (and without using any GP game or perk or using the app etc.)

Back when I worked in gambling there was a GCUK rule that you had to close inactive accounts after six months and it barely ever happened, most people would be active at least once and reset the counter.

 

[Ywap]

Pre-filled auto renewal should be illegal no matter what. Simple as that.

 

[DrCheese]

I'm old enough to remember the days where you could sign up for xbox live subscriptions on your 360... but not cancel. To cancel you *had* to call and get a human to do it, only after loads of "But why are you leaving, it's such good value"

ugh.

 

[Goalus]

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

I remember being told over and over again that the subscription model is "a race to the bottom" because the income it provides to the platform holder is far lower than the value it offers to the consumer.

Which is it?

 

[Three]

That's nice and all, but like, how about consumers be more responsible for their own finances?

Because it's daft when you think about it. Imagine agreeing to lend somebody money once and they see that as reason to reach into your wallet every year and you just have to be vigilant and keep track of your wallet to tell them to stop.

There is absolutely no reason for auto renewal. If a subscription has lapsed and you're not using it you're getting conned when it auto renews. If it has lapsed and you are using it what's so hard about having a single button pop up you click to renew when actually trying to use the service?
The only reason they do it is that they hope you forget and they have access to your finances.

 

[Panajev2001a]

This is a useful government move and props to Phil for ensuring MS jumped ahead and pledged first or amongst the first to do so.

 

[Ozriel]

Can start subscription by clicking on website
Only way to stop subscription is by sending a letter through snail mail

Fuck corporations.

Sir, this is 2022.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Australia made laws against predatory auto-renewing subscriptions. It is a good step for the industry to keep it clean.

 

[Helghan]

Reads to me that most Game Pass users actually use Game Pass and aren't just paying for the subscription unknowingly. Otherwise you wouldn't be so pro-active, since it would cost them a lot of money if a lot of people aren't using the service, and you would automatically unsubscribe them.

 

[cormack12]

Funny, should have done this years ago with those shitty book and cd susbscriptions on Britannia. What about auto renewal on Android/Google Play apps, Netflix, ExpressVPN or Adobe? Another example of the video game sector being demonised.

If I click auto renewal, I know what it's for....They just need to make auto-renewal opt in for all digital services, not automatically set.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Subscription model is predatory because it almost counts on the fact that people won’t cancel

80 euro for a game is predatory.

 

[AV]

These subscriptions TELL YOU they're going to auto-renew. You can turn that off immediately, you can set a reminder in your calendar to do it later.

How lazy/careless with money are people that they cannot be bothered to do the above? I heard an ad on a podcast recently for a company that will go through your many subscription services for you and cancel ones you don't use. Is that where we are now? People paying so much money per month for stuff that they've forgotten what stuff they're paying for?

Boggles the mind.

 

[Ovek]

Shit they need to look in to Amazon Prime as well. I have never got a email telling me my subscription is almost up or even an email telling me that it's renewed. I don't even know when it renews anymore.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

 

[cormack12]

You don't need it. We all know your international phone number is smaller than your bank balance.