How can we protect ourselves from online services that employ hidden autorenewal clauses to keep charging us? Readers responded to my recent story about how credit card companies like American Express handle disputed autorenewal charges with some ideas on what we can do about it.
"I thought about this a while back while working with
How can we protect ourselves from online services that employ hidden autorenewal clauses to keep charging us? Readers responded to my recent story about how credit card companies like American Express handle disputed autorenewal charges with some ideas on what we can do about it.
"I thought about this a while back while working with a client who didn't want to buy on the Internet because of credit card security concerns," wrote one reader. "The workaround was to buy a gift card, for the appropriate amount, with cash, so there wasn't a credit card number attached to allow auto-renewal. Just use the gift card once, then cut it up and throw it away. Be sure to figure the cost of the gift card into the price of the product, though. The client in question was an AAA member, though, and they apparently have a program where they waive the card charge and just issue the card for the amount of value received for members. I also thought this was a nifty idea for safeguarding credit cards while on vacation, too. At most, the thief gets the vacation spending money, and no connection to me that could be used to commit identity theft."
Another reader had a suggestion that can also save money on the price you pay. "For years I purchase software only in shrink-wrapped packages or downloaded from Newegg.com. In fact buying from Newegg turned out to be cheaper than the autorenew offers that appear one year after installation. I then uninstall the 'old' version and reinstall the 'new' one. This keeps me current and avoids autorenewals. From what I've read it is less hassle than fighting with a software firm and credit card company over an unwanted autorenewal."
Many readers advocated using the one-time credit cards available from various financial institutions. "I personally use one-time credit card numbers when making purchasing on-line, including autorenewal items," wrote another reader. "To date at least, whenever these companies have tried to automatically renew by charging to those numbers, the charges have been declined. Bank of America calls their one-time numbers as 'ShopSafe account numbers,' Discover Card refers to them as 'Secure Online Account Numbers,' and Citibank goes by the name of 'Virtual Account Numbers.' There may other such services, but those are the only ones that I am aware of. Years ago, American Express did offer one-time credit card numbers, but they discontinued the service. The explanation I got was that not enough people were using them."
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
Sign up to receive Business Resource Alerts
12 Recommendations
