I registered for a fun run using an online race website. I entered the necessary information — name, address, age and credit card information. Near the end of the checkout process, I was asked to check a box that would allow a third party vendor to enroll me in a “free” trial membership of a service I didn’t want or need. I was not interested, but could not proceed to the checkout without the box being checked. In my haste, I didn’t note the fine print, the company, or the terms.
Apparently the fine print explained that the free trail membership would automatically turn into a year-long membership if the free trial was not cancelled within 30 days.
A couple of weeks later, the company that offered the trial membership contacted me via email to inform and congratulate me that my trial had automatically converted to a one-year membership and they had charged the credit card on file.
My initial, irritated reaction was to call the bank and block the payment, but the calmer side urged me to go directly to the source to rectify the situation.
I emailed the company and took ownership of my role. I explained that I had neglected to cancel the subscription because I was unaware that it would automatically enroll me. I also explained that in order to cancel the subscription, I would have needed their contact information, which was not made available to me until I was already enrolled.
The company finally complied with my request and refunded my money but only after I shared my truth:
1. When choices are unwillingly removed, it is bullying.
2. When choices or information are unknowingly removed, it is lying or cheating.
3. When you take something that isn’t yours, it is stealing.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for large corporations or the government to incorporate these tactics and call them “policies” or “marketing.”
• Telecommunication companies add a dollar or a dime to your monthly bill without getting noticed. Then when questioned, offers no reasonable explanation.
• The government adds “convenience charges” to process online vehicle tab renewals or property taxes – a system that should save them both time and money.
• Banks charge a fee to withdrawal or use your own money.
• The expense of letting go of a bad employee is more than the cost to keep him or her. I mean no disrespect to ethical, hard-working people, but the government and education institutions are notorious for this.
Conduct a google search and you’ll find more examples of bad business ethics than an honest person can stomach. The offenses are too many to mention. Poor ethics are so commonplace that even the magazine or news sites that report about it have lost sight of it. They create code that loops you back into their site when you attempt to leave their page.
News flash — you are removing my choice.
Do these tactics work? Sadly, yes! Because the more we ignore them, the more they gain permission to continue. As a society we’ve become numb or blind. We take the crap and say nothing. We allow unethical behavior because it is so common that it takes too much time and energy to change it. But that’s where we have gone wrong.
We aren’t powerless. We have a choice and we have a voice. Begin to question and question again. Demand accountability.
Unwillingly removing choices is called bullying, not good business. Call them out. Make a change.
Powerful Perspectives call out imbalances to help us get back to center.
Powerful Perspective
Balance is a result of Powerful Perspectives -- qualities that begin with awareness and move upward toward love.
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