During one of my Internet download music surfing sessions, the Real Player pop-up appeared and I clicked on it. The “Superpass” promised me free downloads, free movies and free TV shows, movie clips, music videos, etc. This seemed like a good deal. Free trial period for fourteen days. I signed up and gave my debit card information (required) to start the free trial. I told myself to remember to cancel if I didn’t like the service before the fourteen days were up. I did not read all the fine print. Most people don’t. I was in for an unpleasant surprise.
I used their service for fourteen days looking at free grade “B” movies. None of these free movies were blockbusters, or recent ones anyway. There was a wide selection, but few that I could watch all the way through. They were either old and/or poorly made. I had never heard of most of the ones offered for free viewing. I was not impressed with their selection. Since the main reason I signed up was to watch movies on my laptop during long trips, the $14.99 a month charge seemed reasonable, even if the movies weren’t all that great. I thought maybe I would keep the service. When an unforeseen auto repair came up, I decided to cut back, as many people are doing these days, and decided to eliminate the Real Player “Superpass.
I had signed up on a Saturday afternoon around four p.m. Exactly fourteen days later on a Saturday afternoon, thinking I was still within my free trial period, I went to the site to cancel my subscription. I went to “my account” and clicked on the link to cancel. I was met with a screen saying I had to call their 866 number in order to do that. I noticed the hours of the phone center operation for canceling were in Easter Standard Time. I live in Arizona and with a three hour difference, I noticed I was too late to call. They had closed at two p.m. my time. I decided to cancel my debit card information on the site, not edit it, just cancel so maybe I wouldn’t be charged. That didn’t work. It just took me back to my account screen and it still stated my account was active. I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to call the next day which was Sunday. I called first thing as soon as they opened and was greeted by an east Indian with the dubious name of “Jeff”. After telling him I tried to cancel on the site within the fourteen day period he said I could only cancel by phone and had to call within their hours of operation. They were not available 24/7. I went to my bank account on line and found I had already been charged the $14.99 less than a day after I tried to cancel.
If you want a free trial, remember if you’re going to cancel, to do it way before the fourteen days are up. Your account will be charged if you go even one minute past the 336 hours you are given. The charge will hit your credit card almost immediately leaving you no recourse. Beware of Internet free trials. There’s always a catch.
