Real networks trial is 14 days after which charges begin . However they never sent account information or notice that they had received payment of a monthly fee .I am one to stay on top of my emails as I have an ebay store.
by not notifying me of payments received they were able to continuously charge me 16.95 per month for 8 months during which time I never used their service . I only noticed that they were into me when it caused an over draft of my account after I was on work mans comp . they have separated accounting from customer service so that when complaining you cannot prove to they operator that you have not accessed the service thus backing up your not knowing that you even had the service. the operators are outsourced to India some where as all operators spoke bad English (I SPOKE TO THREE )
THIS WHOLE THING WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENEDD IF ALL CHARGES TO EVERY ONE REQUIRED NOTIFICATION OF CHARGES AND SERVICE PERIOD TO BE SENT TO THE PAYING PARTY REGARDLESS OF PRIOR APPROVALS . THEN I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO CANCEL AS, I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT THE CHARGES WERE FOR UNTIL I CALLED THE NUMBER ON MY BANK STATEMENT.
THIS KIND OF BILLING IS POPULAR : TO OFFER FREE SERVICE GET YOUR CC INFO THEN BEGIN CHARGING AT THE END OF THE TRIAL PERIOD . IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR RUSHED LIFE STYLE IN A BAD ECONOMY BUT EVEN IN A GOOD ONE .
FOR ME 136.00 FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND 35 FOR THE OVER DRAFT AND THAT IS HOW REAL PLAYER AND REAL NETWORKS DO BUSINESS . WHEN I GOOGLED THEM THE ENTIRE PAGE WAS COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE .
THERE NEEDS TO BE A LAW TO MAKE FREE START UP SERVICE POST YOU WHEN THEY BECOME PAYED FOR SERVICES BEFORE THE TRIAL PERIOD ENDS SO WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE IN THE DARK FOR TRYING SOMETHING OUT, THE BURDEN IS ON THE PARTY CHARGING TO ASCERTAIN THEY ARE REALLY WANTED AFTER THE FREE PERIOD . AS THE NUMBER ONE BUZZ WORD TO ADD TO SALES IS FREE