Stop me in the event you’ve heard this one earlier than: There are too many subscription companies—so many, the truth is, that you just may even neglect that they’re silently siphoning away your funds.
There are loads of methods to take care of this drawback, from sustaining and auditing a subscription listing, to setting cancellation reminders. But right here’s a greater concept: Unless you’re sure about preserving a streaming video subscription for the lengthy haul, simply cancel it instantly after signing up.
Not everybody realizes this, however when you’ve paid for a month of HBO Now, CBS All Access, or just about every other streaming TV service, you might be entitled to that full month even after you’ve cancelled. These corporations don’t do prorated refunds, which is unlucky in the event you neglect to cancel a free trial, however it’s nice for avoiding computerized renewal within the first place. With so many new companies providing their very own unique exhibits, subscribing in one-month increments is a good way to maintain your month-to-month TV invoice in verify.
Of course, biking by means of free trials and subscribing in one-month increments isn’t all the time the very best cord-cutting technique. If you end up re-upping the identical subscriptions each month, that most likely means these companies are offering sufficient worth to maintain on a long-term foundation.
Most streaming companies, nonetheless, most likely received’t clear that bar, and quick cancellation is one of the simplest ways to keep away from getting by chance slapped with recurring charges. Instead of coping with reminders, subscription lists, and routine audits, put the burden on the streaming companies to earn your repeat enterprise within the first place.
Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly e-newsletter to get this column and extra cord-cutting information, insights, and offers delivered to your inbox.
