The Philadelphia Inquirer — Local services in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Inquirer uses what I would consider a deceptive practice when signing up for a trial. It’s a practice that the FTC recently proposed to ban. They are currently accepting comments until June 23rd on a new “click to cancel” policy that will prohibit what the Inquirer actively engages in.

That practice being that when you sign up for a trial, they don’t allow you to cancel the same way you signed up. The only reason I can think of that they do this (along with having crazy hours where they close at 3PM so people who work can’t really call them unless they call during a three hour window on Saturday morning) is because they know that people don’t like to call people anymore and they know that people will put it off, forget about it until the charge comes around again and they get extra months to prop up a dying industry. This seems especially wrong since people with anxiety disorders have a literal fear of picking up the telephone and actively avoid calling people and the, probable, high pressure tactics they would employ once you do manage to remember to call them during their opening hours.

In conclusion: what the Inquirer does should (and will soon) be illegal. So as soon as the rule is enforceable, I will be filing an FTC complaint. In the meantime, I am going to chat with my credit card issuer to ask them if they can block the Inquirer from charging me in the future.

Shame on the Inquirer for having the same cancellation policy of...

I signed up at a discounted rate to read one (1) single article that was paywalled. I don't live in Philadelphia and have no interest in subscribing for the long term. However, there was no option to unsubscribe on their website, nor in the abundant emails they send. I also could not locate a phone number on their website. I intended to try again later but forgot until they charged me $15 for the regular subscription price. I then submitted an online ticket/help form begging them to cancel my subscription and they sent me an email that said they can't cancel via that method. The email finally included a phone number, though, so I called them. However, I am in a very different time zone, so it was a few more days after the charge when I finally remembered to call at the right time when they would be open (I think it was the 8th or 9th of the month). At that point, the customer service person said that it was too late to refund my $15. Not the hugest loss, but definitely more hassle than it was worth. Be aware if you subscribe digitally that they only cancel subscriptions via phone and you will have to go hunting...

No stars given. I signed up in July for a trial and NEVER received a Sunday paper. I called EVERY Sunday and I was assured my complaint was being escalated, the driver notified, the manager notified, yada, yada, yada. However I NEVER got a paper. My digital access was promptly cancelled on the last day of the trial, and the very next day they are calling me to renew it ! I did NOT. However I got a call in October for another trial and was talked into trying it again and I would DEFINITELY get the printed Sunday edition. Shame on me for falling for this b/c I have gotten ONE paper in 12 weeks. I call EVERY Sunday and my subscription is extended for another Sunday. But I NEVER get that extended paper either! I made my usual Sunday complaint and hung up after being on hold for 30 minutes b/c it will result in NO PAPER and I have better things to do with my time. I don`t plan to call anymore and will be glad when this subscription expires. I begrude giving this review one star, but I had to give it or I could not post...