Wednesday April 19

[Shirlv]

Morning All, 53° and sunny. Spent 3 hours yesterday trying to stop automatic renewal on Sam’s Club membership. #1 daughter picks up items for me when she shops so I want to cancel my card. Don’t know when or how but the payment was taken over by a bank. The system to reach a live person was impossible and I hung up on the man in India because he was giving me another phone number to try and use another automated system. Feeling old and useless I emailed #1 daughter who took up the fight. This morning she was still battling. After two more hours she gave me a number to call because they would not allow her to act for me even though she had my underwear size. Automatic renewal is canceled and I do not feel as useless because they have an impossible system. I had peanut butter crackers and ice cream for dinner last night but have not hit the wine box. It’s only 10: but I need chocolate. Be safe

[Cudedog]

Morning All, 53° and sunny. Spent 3 hours yesterday trying to stop automatic renewal on Sam’s Club membership. #1 daughter picks up items for me when she shops so I want to cancel my card. Don’t know when or how but the payment was taken over by a bank. The system to reach a live person was impossible and I hung up on the man in India because he was giving me another phone number to try and use another automated system. Feeling old and useless I emailed #1 daughter who took up the fight. This morning she was still battling. After two more hours she gave me a number to call because they would not allow her to act for me even though she had my underwear size. Automatic renewal is canceled and I do not feel as useless because they have an impossible system. I had peanut butter crackers and ice cream for dinner last night but have not hit the wine box. It’s only 10: but I need chocolate. Be safe

Shirl, thanks for posting this. I feel your pain. This India thing has gotten totally out of hand. These days, when one makes just about any kind of a call, one just about always gets a poor-language-skills person from India.

And, no, I am not down on people of Indian (from India) descent in general. I live in an area where there are a lot of Indian immigrants, and their second-generation (and third, and so on) children. Those that I have met, and have known personally, have always been kind, friendly and supportive.

How to easily solve this "un-subscribe, un-membership" problem? I have used PayPal for quite a while now to manage all kinds of purchases, payments - and "automatic renewals".

When I sign up for something these days (like a retail stores "membership" or something of the like) I pay for it using PayPal. Once the initial payment is made, and to stop future charges, I go into my PayPal account and toggle off the future payment functions for that vendor.

That way, even if I can't find where to "unsubscribe" from future payments, when the next request for payment hits PayPal, the payment request is denied. I don't then need to worry about trying to find the link to unsubscribe on the vendor's website.

Shirl, I know this information won't help you now, but maybe it might help someone else on the Forum who is looking for a solution for these kinds of things.

Also. . . DON'T feel "old and useless". This "impossible system" is specifically designed to be this way, to intimidate people, in order to keep the "membership" and "subscription" cash rolling in. Vendors are betting that most people will just give up when they can't get the job done. And they are right!

KUDOS to YOU and your daughter for sticking to this - you got it DONE!!

Anne

[Acadianmom]

I don't like having to talk to someone I can't understand and I tell them I can't understand them, not that it does any good. My Sam's membership needs to be renewed next month and I do it in the store. About the only thing I get there now is gas and I will probably forget and try to use my card before I renew.

I saw Carol Burnett on one of the talk shows the other day promoting the special and she looks really good for 90. It would take a lot of paint for me to look good for my age.

Barbie, Lazy Daze RV's have a good reputation but $50,000 for a 2003 is a bit much.

I need to go to Walmart and pick up what I need for my campout. The only planned meal is hamburgers one night so I'm not cooking a bunch of stuff to take. I finally found some firewood at Lowe's and it will be cool enough for a fire, if it doesn't rain. Rain is predicted for here Friday and Saturday but I will be in Mississippi.

I need to give Sugar a bath and keep putting it off. She is on a once-a-month pill but is scratching a lot. I tell her the darn cats are giving her fleas. The cats get the flea drops and I don't see any fleas on them.

Martha

[SoCalGalcas]

I had that problem with a “free week of Tv and easy cancel” I really wanted that channel. But I could’nt cancel my current TV service. I sure didn’t want to pay for two channels. I ended up canceling my credit card! That was easier than struggling trying to cancel.
My daughter was in a coup term class some time ago. When she couldn’t figure something out, the instructor (nicely) said she was a dinosaur! That’s what I am! The kids today are raised with computers in their hands. I do understand why the companies make things so difficult.
My ggs has a “SWITCH “. I now know what that is!!! Lyn

[JudyJB]

I always have at least two credit cards, and one is often ready to run out. So, one thing I am going to do from now on is to use the card that runs out to buy things with. Then, periodically, I will let it run out.

Chilly today, so I am getting my bike ready to ride. I have just had a mental thing since I fell in Edinburgh last June and then in Rocky Mountain National Park in August. And that was just walking, not even riding a bike!! Plus, it was cold and rainy in most of the winter, and I just lost my nerve. I have never broken anything, and my bones are in fairly good shape for my age and my platelets are at the lower normal range, but I am getting up there. I got my battery out and charged it, and today, am going to get it uncovered and the tires filled so I can ride it tomorrow. Wish me luck in terms of nerves. Otherwise, I am going to sell it, but it was an expensive bike--only has 200 miles on it. Heading out now to take out trash and work on bike. I am sure it is going to need air in tires so will have to get compressor out.

Going to be warmer tomorrow, and then on Friday I have to drive into St. George to get blood work done, and also get a new vent cover for my bedroom vent. Two things happened--my bathroom vent is stuck open so I stole the cushion from the bedroom to put there, but that meant that when the sun comes up in the morning, I get a lot of bright light shining on me in bed. There is a cover on it, but it does not keep it dark, as I like it. So I am getting a new cover, this time in black, and also buying a new cushion.

[IrishIroamed]

Hi ladies~~~
Afternoon here in Apache Junction. My heart is happy. I had an appointment to go the the Salt River Advocates rescue and sanctuary location since I donate to them.

Got to see the horses they have rescued and that can't be released due to age and injury. They also had two Alpine Wild mares that were recently caught in a helicopter roundup. one of the mares gave birth Friday night, but the amazing thing was that somehow the still free wild horses sensed the baby and there were about 50 of them up on the ridge checking out the little one. <3

Met Joan from Apackof2 for the Rd Fb site. Her truck broke down on her way here so i helped her out by taking her to the bank and for groceries. Not sure what else I'll do here other than probably had back to the river again. Mostly I'm being lazy

Have a good day. Hopefully Spring has fully arrived where you are.

[Bethers]

I've always been able to cancel. Most online, a few not. Sam's Club requires phone OR in the store. If I had trouble at all using the phone I'd head to a store. Except like now where I'm no where near one. I'm not going to play credit card games and then have to get a new card elsewhere. Yes I'm at an age it wouldn't hurt me but I like my credit limits even if I never intend to use them. Should I have to I wouldn't want to lose them.

My 4th day off is coming to an end. Funny, I don't mind the job, but I don't like the alarm clock and having to get up. Lunches are ready on the fridge to simply be put in a bag tomorrow morning. Almost time for Ty and I to wander the gardens when he can be off leash.

[OregonLuvr]

Good afternoon. Weather the same, cloudy, rain showers bit breezy so cold out at 51. I tidied up the house a bit, took a shower and went out to lunch with a neighbor who invited me last week. WOW havent been out for a very long time. We went for Mexican food and it was really good. Stopped at the co=op so she could get a couple things then to Home Depot where I got my onion sets to plant this weekend......hopefully.

Having my afternoon mocha and wont have much for dinner as I probably wont be hungry. I bought a new outdoor recliner chair for my back deck. Now when it warms up I can sit out there and read or play on my tablet Right now it is in my living room hah Cheryl how fun you got to see the horses, and a new one too. I used to raise, show, train Arabian horses many moons ago and I just loved working with the foals, they were my favorite part of raising horses. Barbie hope you get to start work soon. Martha have fun camping this weekend.

Cooking ribs tomorrow and will make some potato salad to go with them. I have a hankering for some blueberry pancakes so am thawing some frozen blueberries now for tomorrow's breakfast.

[Redetotry]

I understand about the time it takes to reach a person and then find someone you can understand and hear! I was calling about a credit card issue and it was late evening. I couldn't hear or understand the person when I finally was connect. I told her politely I could not hear her well and I couldn't understand her could she please transfer me. I did understand her when she said I will transfer you to someone in the US. Well same thing could neither hear or understand, I again asked to be transferred and they agreed and cut me off. I was definitely frustrated.
Weather is crazy here one day it is over 80 and next day it's in the 50's. It's supposed to be 38 in a couple of nights.

Cheryl I would love to have seen the wild horses. Karen you have made me hungry for blueberry pancakes. Shirl I think you deserve to hit tie wine box regardless of the time. Barbie Lazy Daze have a great reputation but like Martha said way they are asking way too much. Hope you can get started to work soon!

[Shirlv]

Judy, I thought of you and would never have watched a video about Skye if you had not visited there. I have been following a young couple who have moved to Skye. I posted a link in general.

[Cudedog]

I've always been able to cancel. Most online, a few not. Sam's Club requires phone OR in the store. If I had trouble at all using the phone I'd head to a store. Except like now where I'm no where near one. I'm not going to play credit card games and then have to get a new card elsewhere. Yes I'm at an age it wouldn't hurt me but I like my credit limits even if I never intend to use them. Should I have to I wouldn't want to lose them.

Beth, I have never had a problem cancelling a credit card - I just phone up the company, have them cancel the current card and send me a new one (with a new number). A new card comes in the mail in a couple of days (I do realize that in your situation, without maybe a permanent address, it might take a while for a new card to get to you).

Any attempted charges made against the old number are declined by the credit card company. Like, maybe, "membership renewals" and such like.

Nothing changes with the new card/new number from the same company. Credit limit stays the same.

Easy-peasy.

I have had problems (like Shirl) cancelling something a time or two, because I have just not been able to find an "unsubscribe" link, and also because when I try to phone to cancel something calls seem to magically drop at a very convenient time (for the vendor) before I can get the cancel thing accomplished.

Between the PayPal process described above, and the credit card cancelling thing, I stopped having these kinds of problems. I refuse to be "on hold" for an extended period of time, I refuse to try to deal with someone who has an extremely poor grasp of English, I refuse to put up with multiple transfers (usually ending in dropped calls) for what should be a quick and simple process.

But - to each her own. Whatever works, I always say! Beth, glad to hear you have always been able to get the job done.

Here's an interesting article, for those who might be interested. Sounds like this might be something like what both Shirl and Lyn experienced (you are not alone):

"Canceling Online Subscriptions Is Confusing, Difficult and Absurd...by Design."

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/canceling-online-subscriptions-confusing-difficult-absurd-by-design/

As is stated in this article, there have been class-action lawsuits against companies that make this process so difficult.

Anne

[Cudedog]

I had that problem with a “free week of Tv and easy cancel” I really wanted that channel. But I could’nt cancel my current TV service. I sure didn’t want to pay for two channels. I ended up canceling my credit card! That was easier than struggling trying to cancel.

Lyn, you are 100% correct about the difficulty to cancel something.

You are not alone.

I have also used the same solution - cancelling my credit card - as you have done.

Anne

[Bethers]

Anne, I wouldn't have any qualms about cancelling any card if necessary to get things straight. The way you talked about. I wouldn't feel it was handled if I simply let a card expire.

[snowball]

Got on the computer last night and looked at gmail then went to the next site and it says that internet lost so tried another and same thing so looked at the part where it tells me if I have internet I couldn't tell...it looked like I did and I am such a illiterate when it comes to computers that I thought I'd see about it tomorrow even tried the ole turn off computer and back on trick no still lost only now the symbol that indicates internet was no longer showing internet... so closed the computer and did some FB'ing I really need to get this site and my banking site on the phone just haven't done it ...
tried doing an on line buying really wanted to see if it was taken out of the banking account.. but couldn't check last night tonight I went to get on symbol still says no internet I don't believe it so tried and nope it's still lost...so texted my niece she said to unplug the modem I reply back with which is the modem?? finally go and look at the instruments pick up the one that I can reach can't angle it right without pulling the other off the top of the shelve it's on... so go in to call niece see what to do and look down and it now has the internet symbol so been able to get on the normal sites... weird
Judy before I forget... I saw a ad on the phone probably FB and they were talking about a mosquito zapper of some sort called a bugbuzz I think it's suppose to rid the area of mosquitos' faster than other some body who reacted to bites similar to you rebuilt the concept just passing it on..
it has been cold dreary and windy here today I am cold so what do I do get a bowl of ice cream should have gone with hot chocolate but don't want to go to the store till Friday so don't want to run out of horrors MILK
an absolutely do nothing day... didn't want to so didn't ... did finish my book I stayed up too late reading last night.. and a couple of word search ran across an old birthday celebration for a past leader of our church so watched it ... that ice cream was so good it's the private selection called something ganache maybe chocolate because it is really chocolaty ... I like Private Selection ice cream when I can get it now if it was a choice between that and Blue Bonnet probably would go with Blue Bonnet
I think tomorrow I might if the weather is reasonable take mom to the Chinese Restaurant for lunch cheaper and you get the soup with it as well as egg rolls if I was smart I'd just get some appetizers maybe less wasted but a meal will do for mom two and then I waste half of it...
I finished my crocheted afghan last night other than the trimming the fringes still need to do that...
need to find a shepherd's hook that attaches to the deck railing for my new wind chime might get a couple more as well one for a finch feeder and one for a watering station... we will see need to find them first...
when I've had some things on automatic payment like Direct Tv it wasn't an issue canceling it I worried about it but had no issues..
I like Olive Garden been awhile since I've been to it... usually get the salad and soup and of course bread... haven't been to Red Lobster for some time either it's not close like 3 hours away and expensive as well but do droll over there ads... looks so yummy
you all have a great day '
sheila