Warning: Canceling a 247Sports subscription is almost impossible

[AppleCornCy]

I feel like I need to warn fellow Cyclone fans how difficult it is to cancel a subscription from the 247 site. Keep this in mind before you subscribe.

I want to start out by saying I really like the job Michael Swain has done at the ISU 247Sports site. I didn’t want to have to cancel. All I really wanted to do was switch from an annual subscription to a monthly one.

I signed up for an annual account last year when it was like 75% off. With Christmas coming up I didn’t want to pay for a full annual subscription renewal yet, so I decided to try to change it to a monthly subscription.

The 247 site does not have a link for simply updating your subscription. There is only a “cancel subscription” link. When you click on the link however, it doesn’t allow you to cancel from the site. It gives you an email address or a number to call, and it says requests for cancellation need to be made two business days prior to renewal.

Here’s where it gets really shady. When you call the phone number, it will tell you that the average wait time is 6 or 7 minutes and that calls on hold for 10 minutes will be automatically disconnected. The call will actually go for about 15 minutes, and then it’ll tell you that no representatives are available and that you should call back later. Then you’re disconnected.

Ok, so you can’t talk to a real person, but you can email, right? Be careful. The site says that you can cancel by email, but it has to be done two business days prior to renewal. Once you send the email, you get an automatic response telling you that your email will be reviewed within 3-5 business days, just long enough for them to charge you again.

 

[Die4Cy]

Wow, that's pretty sleazy sounds like.

 

[CloneGuy8]

I'd dispute it with your credit card company. Worth a shot.

 

[CoachHines3]

I feel like I need to warn fellow Cyclone fans how difficult it is to cancel a subscription from the 247 site. Keep this in mind before you subscribe.

I want to start out by saying I really like the job Michael Swain has done at the ISU 247Sports site. I didn’t want to have to cancel. All I really wanted to do was switch from an annual subscription to a monthly one.

I signed up for an annual account last year when it was like 75% off. With Christmas coming up I didn’t want to pay for a full annual subscription renewal yet, so I decided to try to change it to a monthly subscription.

The 247 site does not have a link for simply updating your subscription. There is only a “cancel subscription” link. When you click on the link however, it doesn’t allow you to cancel from the site. It gives you an email address or a number to call, and it says requests for cancellation need to be made two business days prior to renewal.

Here’s where it gets really shady. When you call the phone number, it will tell you that the average wait time is 6 or 7 minutes and that calls on hold for 10 minutes will be automatically disconnected. The call will actually go for about 15 minutes, and then it’ll tell you that no representatives are available and that you should call back later. Then you’re disconnected.

Ok, so you can’t talk to a real person, but you can email, right? Be careful. The site says that you can cancel by email, but it has to be done two business days prior to renewal. Once you send the email, you get an automatic response telling you that your email will be reviewed within 3-5 business days, just long enough for them to charge you again.

i sent an email and it was cancelled in about a day and a half.

 

[CompCy]

Technically, this practice is now illegal. The FTC issued a statement that they are cracking down on such practices.

More here: https://www.niemanlab.org/2021/11/t...vorite-retention-tactics-is-illegal-ftc-says/

 

[brett108]

I feel like I need to warn fellow Cyclone fans how difficult it is to cancel a subscription from the 247 site. Keep this in mind before you subscribe.

I want to start out by saying I really like the job Michael Swain has done at the ISU 247Sports site. I didn’t want to have to cancel. All I really wanted to do was switch from an annual subscription to a monthly one.

I signed up for an annual account last year when it was like 75% off. With Christmas coming up I didn’t want to pay for a full annual subscription renewal yet, so I decided to try to change it to a monthly subscription.

The 247 site does not have a link for simply updating your subscription. There is only a “cancel subscription” link. When you click on the link however, it doesn’t allow you to cancel from the site. It gives you an email address or a number to call, and it says requests for cancellation need to be made two business days prior to renewal.

Here’s where it gets really shady. When you call the phone number, it will tell you that the average wait time is 6 or 7 minutes and that calls on hold for 10 minutes will be automatically disconnected. The call will actually go for about 15 minutes, and then it’ll tell you that no representatives are available and that you should call back later. Then you’re disconnected.

Ok, so you can’t talk to a real person, but you can email, right? Be careful. The site says that you can cancel by email, but it has to be done two business days prior to renewal. Once you send the email, you get an automatic response telling you that your email will be reviewed within 3-5 business days, just long enough for them to charge you again.

Have you reported this to the better business bureau? I would do so when you are still at least somewhat upset about it.

 

[brett108]

Technically, this practice is now illegal. The FTC issued a statement that they are cracking down on such practices.

More here: https://www.niemanlab.org/2021/11/t...vorite-retention-tactics-is-illegal-ftc-says/

The one thing I will say for Amazon is that if you want to add a Prime channel for a few months its a click of a button. Go into your subscription settings and turn off renewal and your out almost as easily.

 

[davegilbertson]

So you want to talk to the cancellations department...

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Technically, this practice is now illegal. The FTC issued a statement that they are cracking down on such practices.

More here: https://www.niemanlab.org/2021/11/t...vorite-retention-tactics-is-illegal-ftc-says/

SiriusXM's butthole just puckered

 

[Brandon]

So they don't do the monthly plan like here?

 

[Cyclonepride]

I've had this experience before. Easy to sign up, huge pain in the ass to quit. I had to threaten them to get it cancelled.

If they changed that, I'd almost certainly bounce in and out of subscription, but it's not worth it.

 

[AppleCornCy]

So they don't do the monthly plan like here?

They do, but I signed up for an annual subscription last year when it was on sale. I wanted to switch to a monthly subscription but they’re making it very difficult to communicate that. If they would have answered the phone I would have just told them to switch it to monthly. Now I’m pissed and want to cancel. Looks like what they’re going to do is charge me for an annual subscription before they “have time” to get to my cancellation request.

 

[WhoISthis]

It has been this way for years. Such a pain in the ass.

 

[CycloneErik]

SiriusXM's butthole just puckered

Well, they have to pay for all my junk mail somehow, right?

 

[somecyguy]

Well, they have to pay for all my junk mail somehow, right?

We have to interrupt this post with a commercial to tell you we are commercial free!

 

[AllInForISU]

This would have been a handful of years ago, but I emailed and threatened legal action after struggling to cancel for over a couple months over phone and email. It was confirmed cancellation with a refund in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Cycodolphan]

I've cancelled my subscription two different times with 247 over a phone call. I don't remember it being that difficult to get through either, but the last time I cancelled was probably a few years ago.
For the record I am back on 247 and really enjoy it. (I'm also a CF premium member)

 

[KidSilverhair]

SiriusXM's butthole just puckered

For what it’s worth, I think SiriusXM has changed their subscription system a little bit. When I made my annual (or semiannual) call to cancel last month, which always results in them giving me the introductory offer for another 6 or 12 months, they told me I’m now on a new plan that has no set duration - its $5.99/month, not for 6 months or 12 months but that’s just the price.

Of course I know this gives them the option to simply raise their monthly rate at any time in the future, so it’s not that much of a different deal, but still ... I found it an interesting change in philosophy.

It‘s still a big pain in the keister to have to call them and threaten to cancel. I’d definitely be in favor of a rule requiring companies to allow customers to cancel using the same method they used to sign up (if you signed up online, they have to let you cancel online, instead of forcing you to call). I believe that’s the system in Europe, maybe?

 

[mynameisjonas]

For what it’s worth, I think SiriusXM has changed their subscription system a little bit. When I made my annual (or semiannual) call to cancel last month, which always results in them giving me the introductory offer for another 6 or 12 months, they told me I’m now on a new plan that has no set duration - its $5.99/month, not for 6 months or 12 months but that’s just the price.

Of course I know this gives them the option to simply raise their monthly rate at any time in the future, so it’s not that much of a different deal, but still ... I found it an interesting change in philosophy.

It‘s still a big pain in the keister to have to call them and threaten to cancel. I’d definitely be in favor of a rule requiring companies to allow customers to cancel using the same method they used to sign up (if you signed up online, they have to let you cancel online, instead of forcing you to call). I believe that’s the system in Europe, maybe?

I call XM to cancel every year until they agree to keep the price the same as the previous year. It’s worked for 7 years in a row.

 

[CompCy]

I call XM to cancel every year until they agree to keep the price the same as the previous year. It’s worked for 7 years in a row.

15 years ago I called to cancel my Sirius subscription. They offered me a lifetime plan if I paid something like $300 up front. Never paid anything since.

Of course, last year there was a change because it went to court over the definition of "lifetime." Sirius meant for it to be the lifetime of the vehicle, and customers thought it was for their lifetime. I believe that the outcome of that trial now requires them to allow you to move to a new vehicle a specific number of times.