The "Cancel" Scam

 

Another great deer photo by Susan Coventry

 

 

 

Picture the amount of time and effort involved in setting up

 & waiting  for just the right moment . . .

Solar Halo, Stonehenge. Hannah Cole Photography

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THE "CANCEL" SCAM

Over the last few years I have heard about supposedly reputable companies making it difficult for people to cancel their subscriptions, but I was still surprised, then frustrated, then truly shocked when I ran into that brick wall myself. I am going to attempt to disguise the name of the company involved, rewriting where necessary, as this blog is intended as a warning, an exposé of cancel scams, not a vindictive blow at a particular company. Changes are indicated by asterisks and [ ]. Sadly, the original letter was more dramatic, but . . .

The saddest part of my tale is that when I wrote the following letter to the Chief Honcho of the company involved, it was returned to me as "Undeliverable." So here is my letter (edited). Take heed, readers. Sometimes drastic measures are needed. 

[Managing Director]

Re: [Your company's] “cancel” system is a scam.

Dear ****:

[In the first paragraph I introduce myself, mention my many years as a faithful subscriber & explain why I felt it was time to drop the company's services. Below, the edited remainder of the letter.]
 

    I intended to cancel last spring but to my horror, when the six-month “renewal” postcard arrived, it was already a week past the time $292.11 was charged to my account. (At least that was the impression given by the notice of a renewal date of 7/17/25 arriving on 7/23/25.) So I let it go, making a mental note to cancel the next payment well in advance.

    And then my tale of horror began. When I called the number on the postcard, all I got was succeedingly lower “bargain offers” from the agent. I kept saying “No and No and No!” finally demanding “Cancel, that’s it!” 

    And what do I get? “You’ll have to wait until the next card arrives in January.” !!!

    I went online, attempting to get into Customer Service on both AOL and Microsoft Edge. Every time I went near anything like the word Cancel—NOTHING. After multiple times over a period of about ten days, a chat box finally popped up. I’m too old to like chat boxes, but I was desperate. I am enclosing a copy of yet another roundabout conversation, ending—unbelievably—with an offer to send me instructions on how to cancel AFTER FILLING OUT A FORM AND PAYING FIVE DOLLARS. 

    Nothing left but snail mail, I thought. Should have tried it earlier. Then I re-read the postcard. I quote: “We do not accept correspondence sent by U. S. Mail or otherwise.” !!!  By this time, it’s a wonder I didn’t have a stroke on the spot. In addition to the aggravation, I should note that I am the author of 50+ books, and this was an enormous waste of my time.

    The next day, I went to my bank and asked them to stop payment on any further money to ****. 

    [I am aware of the current hardships of the survival of this type of service, but] I am horrified by [a business known for its] integrity resorting to the use of a Cancellation Service that can only be termed a Scam. I can only hope that upper management was not aware of how low Customer Service has fallen. Please, for the sake of other elderly subscribers forced to give up [this service], FIX THIS ISSUE. And for the sake of [your business] being able to hold up its head with pride in all aspects of its service to the public.                                                        

[Signature lines removed for brevity]                                                        

Enc: copy of postcard & my “Chat” 

****** 

END OF LETTER to Managing Director, which, may I remind you, was returned to me, marked UNDELIVERABLE. Sigh. 

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This week's featured book:

I have had a penchant for Science Fiction since high school, but not the technical know-how to write it. BUT Sci Fi Fantasy? I am so glad I took a plunge in that direction. What a great contrast to writing Regency. (Or maybe not.) Rebel Princess was supposed to be a one-off but turned into Book 1 of the 4-book Blue Moon Rising series. Plus the spin-off, The Crucible Kingdom. It portrays a world in a universe "far, far away," that I truly enjoyed creating. I hope you take a peek.

 The Princess Royal of a pacifist planet, whose people have spent a thousand years developing their powers of the mind, stages a personal rebellion, joining the space academy of a planet that has spent a millennium developing its military might. This odd pairing goes well until her senior year when her new "friends" turn on her. Only the swift action of an honorable huntership captain saves her from rape and possible medical experimentation. As a very special prisoner of war, she spends four years in solitary confinement, where she dreams of her rescuer but has no idea she has inadvertently sparked a rebellion against the military planet's vast Empire.

When the princess-in-disguise is finally freed and tossed into the middle of the Rebellion, she discovers there is a sharp contrast between her fantasy version of the man who rescued her and the flesh and blood starship captain leading the rebellion. She must also cope with his followers who fear her psychic powers, a fey younger brother who speaks only through illusions, royal parents with strict belief in non-violence, and a fiancé who happens to be a sorcerer. It would appear the hope of toppling the Empire is a dim light at the end of a very long tunnel.

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For a link to Blair's website & editing info, click here. 

For Archives, see the menu on the right. 

 For recent blogs, scroll down. 

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft) 

 

How NOT to End a Series

 Since I began this blog in 2011, I have made it a habit to include pics of the granddaughters. Some readers may recall they were featured in my first two blogs—that horrendous tale of what happened when I attempted to drive them home from a Christmas concert in their mother's car (with three girls, six and under, in carseats and no gas). Now, even the middle grand has turned 21! How time flies. Below, Hailey on the cover of a student magazine at the University of Central Florida (Orlando) and Riley playing the euphonium in a band concert at Stetson University in Deland, FL.

 

 

Riley (redhead) in the middle

Not surprisingly, entitled "Amazing Tree"

 

 

From Cattitude, Facebook

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 HOW NOT TO END A SERIES

Although I have edited many a manuscript, I almost never criticize published writing.  But this week I am going to do just that. (Hopefully, without giving a hint of which series I'm critiquing.) 

I have been following a certain series for some time now, eagerly awaiting each new book. The characters were well drawn, the plots remarkably imaginative. So I quickly downloaded what was billed as the last book of the series and began to read.

I was less than ten pages into the book when I frowned and went, "Huh? What's happened?This is just plain BORING." I kept reading, of course, assuring myself the author wouldn't let me down, but . . .

Too much repetition, too little inspiration. It took a number of chapters for the book to cease reminisicing and move into the plot. But as the final "wind up" plot proceeded, it seemed to substitute overblown action scenes for creativity. Relationships were given lip service—words but with no feeling of genuine emotion. All characters—the good guys and the bad—had faded from vivid color to sepia, into caricatures of their previous selves.

And then, just when I was expecting a big final chapter, the book simply stopped. I flipped my Kindle page, looking for more. Nothing. No reminders of the pain and sorrow, the joys and wonder that had gone before. The book simply petered out into nothing. It was as if the author, obviously bored with series, said, "That's enough. I'm done. Sayonara. Farewell. Time for something else."

Moral of this tale:

Authors, if you start a series, you need to finish it in the style in which it began. The only other case I can cite of such an egregious kick in the teeth to faithful followers is the lack of a final book in the Game of Thrones series, allowing the TV production to turn out one of the most dissatisfiying finales in the history of television. Please, have respect for your readers. Don't toss us a bone without meat, then have the nerve to write, "The End."

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Featured Books of the Week:

My first book was published in 1999, so some of the many to follow are really old, and yet two of my early books keep appearing on my Amazon sales list despite their age— Lady Silence and The Temporary Earl. I have frequently wondered if this was because of their titles. Perhaps readers find the idea of a silent lady intriguing. And whoever heard of a temporary earl? In any event, I chose them both for this week's featured books.

 

 A snowy night; a waif on the doorstep, who doesn't talk. After agreeing to grant her shelter, Damon Farr goes off to six years of war, returning determined to be a recluse, only to discover the girl is still there. And still not talking. Is "the girl the cat dragged in" destined to be Damon Farr's Sinful Temptation or his Salvation? The odd pair walk a rocky road before the answer becomes clear.

Reviews:

"Blair Bancroft can always be counted on to deliver exceptional characters and/or settings, historical accuracy, unusual plots, and flawless writing. LADY SILENCE is one more sterling example." Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

"LADY SILENCE by Blair Bancroft is a splendid Regency romance! The creative intrigue and alluring characters make this novel a must have." Nadine St. Denis, Romance Junkies

 

Former army engineer, Major Charles Tyrone, is catapulted to acting head of the family when his distant cousin, the elderly Earl of Wyvern, suffers a stroke at the news his only son has been killed in an accident and his grandson, age fifteen, lies in a coma. The major must also cope with the earl's ward, Lady Vanessa Rayne, who is a bit too aware of her status as daughter of an duke. Major Tyrone's efforts are also considerably hampered by a plethora of relatives (and prospective heirs), with hints of murder and attempted murder soon rearing their ugly heads. Yet despite being caught in the midst of these dire events, Charles and Vanessa begin to suspect it is possible for the daughter of a duke and lowly engineer to fall in love. If, that is, they live that long.

Reviews:

"The very talented Blair Bancroft has added another diamond to the Regency treasure chest with the tightly plotted and delightfully executed The Major Meets His Match."* Teresa Roebuck, Romantic Times
*now titled The Temporary Earl

"It's a vibrant and fun-filled glimpse into a time long ago, and I highly recommend it to . . . any fan of romance. It has all the qualities that we look for, regardless of the time period. Don't miss it. It's a keeper!" Celia Merenyi, A Romance Review

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BLAIR BANCROFT EDITING

Developmental Editing

for new and would-be authors

For link to details, please click here. 

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For a link to Blair's website & editing info, click here. 

For Archives, see the menu on the right. 

 For recent blogs, scroll down. 

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)