Wasting Money with subscriptions

[Adam H]

Does anyone else have to audit them selves or their business every so often with the amount of recurring payments they have ?

I had a half a day free yesterday which doesn't come up very often, so took the opportunity to "tidy up" a bit.

Doing maintenance on all my machines, devices and accounts etc.

I had about 4 or 5 subscriptions go out which isn't out of the ordinary, but a couple we're yearly recurring payments which I didn't need. So It encouraged me to look at all the active subscriptions, turns out I've been spending £300 a month on subscriptions I don't even really use or use once in a blue moon. Of course I knew they were there, but when you see the odd payment go out it doesn't highlight how much in total there is.

I'm all for supporting services and useful things and often think "well that's only a tenner a month". But it doesn't take long to mount them up.

Don't throw money away, check your subs

 

[Skinner]

I do that all the time. I subscribed (pun intended) to the aggregations of minimal gains theory a while ago, so where I can I use a cashback card, I audit my subscriptions and fixed outgoings quite routinely.

All the little things, soon add up to a big hunk of change. Sadly with each passing year and each audit and fix the gains get smaller :/

 

[timter51]

I'm ok on the subscriptions front, my downfall is having a range of hosting services from different providers which I know I could combine into just one VPS and save a ton a month... the thought the migration job at hand keeps putting me off, whilst I waste thousands a year.

 

[Edwin]

I had the same issue for years with hosting, but eventually the difference got so stark that I bit the bullet and we replaced a creaky old $400/month dedicated server with $50/month of much faster virtual hosting space.

 

[dog]

This is why gyms will always be a profitable business.

 

[Skinner]

Nah the gym model is guilt, while your paying you can feel better, once you cancel you are admitting defeat.

In all seriousness, gyms make their money because only 10-15% of their total member base occupy the gym for 90%+ of the time, around 50% visit the gym once a week or less. These stats are from a branch of a well known gym chain with over 6,000 local members (doesn't include members with different home gyms).

On the subject of hosting, do a migration,so run both hosting side by side and move over slowly. Allow a few months expiry, I'm due to do this, just an easier way to clean up the server. The amount of crap that builds up, and dropped domains with sites or sold domains with sites, where the husk remains is insane.

 

[Edwin]

In a similar vein, if you stick to the same broadband provider, mobile company, insurance service etc. year after year you're almost certainly getting ripped off. They have a nasty habit of bumping the price up like clockwork every year, while offering fab deals to new customers that they don't share with their existing, loyal customer base. Took a long time for the idea to really sink in that they care far more about bringing new customers on board (maybe because of how their bonus structure is set up for their sales teams) than retaining existing ones. But I've finally learned my lesson, and learned it well.

The easiest solution is to (very politely) threaten to leave, and let their retention team tempt you with better deals.

If you do go down that route, from experience you should get a better result from their live web chat rather than by phoning their call centre. It's also easier to cut and paste in "comparable" offers from other providers, to help persuade them. So track down a great deal from an "equivalent" supplier, then see if they'll match or better it. If it's a mobile provider, ask them to give you the PAC code so that you can change providers - hints that you're serious.

Got our Virgin Media bill down several times, and now we're paying just over half what we were three years ago, yet that's for a higher broadband speed and a better TV package than we started out with. Similar story for O2 and EE (and before that, Three) where we're paying significantly less than we used to.

And don't forget that if you do go the whole hog and change supplier, many offer VERY generous cashback through TopCashback (can be £100+ depending on what company and service level we're talking about). For instance, at the moment there's up to £80 cashback on Sky, up to £80 cashback on Virgin Media, up to £145 cashback on BT Broadband, up to £93 cashback on EE, etc. etc. I imagine just about every major supplier is represented.

You can sign up for TopCashback through my referral link (thank you!): https://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/newmembership
Or if you prefer to go direct and bypass my referrer: https://www.topcashback.co.uk/

(There are also a ton of hosting companies offering cashback, as do many domain registrars etc. so there could be potential to benefit there too.)

 

[Edwin]

If you want to get your "ammunition" ready for when you haggle for a better mobile deal.

1) Find the best offer for the kind of package (minutes, texts, data) you want
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/th...st-sim-only-deals-and-free-sim-offers-2481975
If it's offered by the mobile provider you're already with, great, you're finished. You now know what you could be paying. If it's offered by a different mobile network, or by a virtual mobile provider, then go to 2)

2) Cross-reference with https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/gui...verage-and-pros-and-cons-of-virtual-networks/ to check which mobile network the virtual provider is using. It might be the same underlying mobile network as your existing carrier. You can then haggle saying "Well, I could go to XYZ and get a sim for £whatever, and end up right back on the same network, or..." or if it's a different network "Well, if I swap to EE, I can get..."

It's going to be much easier to negotiate if you do that little bit of legwork first. You might even find a deal that's so good, you don't mind changing providers to get it.

NOTE: in general, you're probably better off going to the main networks (O2, EE, Three) for service rather through a virtual network operator. Shouldn't make a huge difference day to day, but it's one less layer to deal with when stuff goes wrong. So the big trick is to persuade the main networks to offer you virtual network-level prices

Extra tip: 99% of the time it's going to be cheaper to pay for a mobile phone in full (if you can afford to do so) and get a sim-only deal. The packages where you pay for a phone month-by-month as part of the contract add up to a very expensive phone when you crunch the numbers!

 

[dog]

Working in fitness I can tell you the members that comes in on a regular basis is much lower than 10% - 15%. That other 50%+ is more about once a month... or less.

It's crazy to me... but that's how gyms and health clubs make money.

In reality you don't need a gym to get in shape. Calisthenics and bodyweight exercises work great.

In all seriousness, gyms make their money because only 10-15% of their total member base occupy the gym for 90%+ of the time, around 50% visit the gym once a week or less. These stats are from a branch of a well known gym chain with over 6,000 local members (doesn't include members with different home gyms).

Pretty much.

Nah the gym model is guilt, while your paying you can feel better, once you cancel you are admitting defeat.

Yeah, you accumulate so many extra hosting services over the years. I should clean out.

On the subject of hosting, do a migration,so run both hosting side by side and move over slowly. Allow a few months expiry, I'm due to do this, just an easier way to clean up the server. The amount of crap that builds up, and dropped domains with sites or sold domains with sites, where the husk remains is insane.

Yup, it's much more expensive to acquire a new customer compared to keeping a current one.

The easiest solution is to (very politely) threaten to leave, and let their retention team tempt you with better deals.

 

[timter51]

I remember when I tried to cancel my David Lloyd membership, it was probably the hardest cancellation battle I've ever head... topping any Sky / Virgin, mobile contract, insurance etc I can think of. They asked me to come in and have a meeting with the centre manager to discuss why I wanted to cancel. Convinced them that I couldn't be convinced, then had to a write a letter to request cancellation. Even then it was a 3 month cancellation notice, during which obviously I was still a member so I made the mistake of going in during that time... got hounded at reception again asking if I'd like to see the manager to discuss "options". My wife also got hounded (we had a joint membership deal), they asked her why I was cancelling and could I be convinced to stay. Also received a number of phone calls during those 3 months. I felt cleansed the day I was no longer a member!

 

[Edwin]

That David Lloyd saga sounds like a real pain.

Just in case anyone is facing the same issue... A quick Google suggests that a hand-delivered cancellation letter counter-signed and dated by a gym receptionist (that you then photocopy and/or take a photo of for your record so that you have incontrovertible proof) is the most efficient way to break the cycle of harassment.

 

[Edwin]

To save money on Now TV, go to cancel your subscription and choose "can't afford it" as the reason. There's a good chance you get automatically offered a discount to stay if you agree to X months more. For example, I just got 4 months of their Entertainment package at £5.49/month (discounted from £7.99 usual price) saving me £10.

The above seems to work every few months so long as they're able to bill you for a bit at full price. That seems to reset their retention algorithm.

Ok, the saving's not mega (!) but it takes 60 seconds tops. And if you subscribe to both their Movies and their Entertainment packages, you can use the same tactic in parallel to discount both.

 

[Skinner]

Once the guys are back in PC world and Currys doing the Now TV packages, those guys have SERIOUS discounting power.

I got 12 months Movies, 12 months Entertainment, 2 boxes for about 90 quid, I'd have to check exact price), I still have a bunch of scratch cards here. Its worth seeing what deal they can do you. Once they are back I'll be seeing them to see what I can get ready for xmas

A cashback credit card was my biggest revelation, i put all my day-to-day stuff on there and pay the complete balance off each month. I must clear about £450-500 a year in cashback. A guy who works for a credit card company also told me, if you close the account every 15 months, and reopen it 2 months later, you can keep taking advantage of the 5% introductory offers and the cashback website offers.

Its money I'm going to spend either way, so why not take 1-1.5% cashback

 

[dog]

This is why gyms mostly don't let you update info or cancel remotely. The sales team wants to hound you.

I remember when I tried to cancel my David Lloyd membership, it was probably the hardest cancellation battle I've ever head... topping any Sky / Virgin, mobile contract, insurance etc I can think of. They asked me to come in and have a meeting with the centre manager to discuss why I wanted to cancel. Convinced them that I couldn't be convinced, then had to a write a letter to request cancellation. Even then it was a 3 month cancellation notice, during which obviously I was still a member so I made the mistake of going in during that time... got hounded at reception again asking if I'd like to see the manager to discuss "options". My wife also got hounded (we had a joint membership deal), they asked her why I was cancelling and could I be convinced to stay. Also received a number of phone calls during those 3 months. I felt cleansed the day I was no longer a member!

Front desk people are not supposed to handle anything with membership sign-ups or cancels. Should get kicked to a membership counselor aka sales.

That David Lloyd saga sounds like a real pain.

Just in case anyone is facing the same issue... A quick Google suggests that a hand-delivered cancellation letter counter-signed and dated by a gym receptionist (that you then photocopy and/or take a photo of for your record so that you have incontrovertible proof) is the most efficient way to break the cycle of harassment.

If you want to cancel a gym membership, go 2 times a day for over a month. The gym will be happy to see you go.

 

[Skinner]

Alternatively, every broken machine report it, if it's not fixed within 7 days, report it to head office via public Twitter post. At my gym the treadmills are so old Noah had 2 to lower the lights, and every time they phone up to hassle me, I reel off a list of broken equipment, and dates when first reported and get a free month "while they take care of it".

Monthly phone calls went quarterly. So far in 2017 zero calls, and I'm pretty sure they would waiver my cancellation period incase I changed my mind if I said I was leaving.

Works with the gym staff too, complain about broken gear everytime and they avoid you like the plague

If you want to cancel a gym membership, go 2 times a day for over a month. The gym will be happy to see you go.

 

[dog]

You would have to use a lot of equipment to find everything that breaks.

Honestly the staff won't like you but management will. Lots of times gyms get complaints of machines that have "been broken for months". Unless people says something is broken, how would you know?

Most gyms should have service contracts and people to fix broken equipment.

Alternatively, every broken machine report it, if it's not fixed within 7 days, report it to head office via public Twitter post. At my gym the treadmills are so old Noah had 2 to lower the lights, and every time they phone up to hassle me, I reel off a list of broken equipment, and dates when first reported and get a free month "while they take care of it".

Monthly phone calls went quarterly. So far in 2017 zero calls, and I'm pretty sure they would waiver my cancellation period incase I changed my mind if I said I was leaving.

Works with the gym staff too, complain about broken gear everytime and they avoid you like the plague

 

[findtim]

i don't use godaddy for domains, but i did ONCE, actually it was a new client so i just wanted to move the domain to my system, ANYWAY, it was close to renewal and when i went to move it they offered me a 20% discount to stay !
well i wasn't staying BUT if you intend to , my hint is never renew at GD, just pretend to leave so they offer you the discount !

maybe it works, maybe it doesn't? worth a shot.

tim

 

[mat]

I am the complete opposite. I hate paying any form of direct debit or subscription and wherever possible will opt for the yearly/discounted one off payment. I also ask that my card is not kept on file to avoid auto renewing of products. I want to get a reminder and then decide if I want to carry on the service.

I am really OCD with any outgoings and go through them all regularly either contacting for discounts when out of contract or changing providers.

It is funny that this is mentioned as today I actually rang BT for 5 minutes and got our bill down £16 a month and also changed our life insurance to a cheaper provider + £75 gift card for the signup.

The way I see it even the smallest of savings each month can be spent on meals/holidays etc which makes it worth it for us.

 

[Skinner]

Now TV fans see this ?

https://signup.nowtv.com/single?pro...eturnUrl=http://watch.nowtv.com/entertainment

99 for movies and TV, I paid bout 90 for mine including a few boxes from an in store rep, so 99 good deal.

 

[freddy]

every month I see some subscriptions that I need to quit or hostings to consolidate on different machines. It is true, once a year you have to recap your subscriptions.