We just freed up $145 a month with almost no effort

[JoeP]

We had rented a 10x10 storage unit 2 years ago during some household events. It was packed to the gills, but the price of $95/mo was tolerable. As things settled, we started emptying it, while simultaneously the price started going up. Eventually when it got to $133/mo (because, you know, SUpplY CHaIn!! ... I mean greed) we said enough and moved everything out.

Also we share Amazon with the kids and they use their own payment. I noticed a $12 charge and figured it was a couple on demand videos, but both kids denied it. We totally trust them, and figure maybe someone fat fingered or one of their friends watched something. Happened again, asked again. Long story short, "someone" did a trial subscription to Paramount+ thru Amazon Video and wouldn't-cha know it, Amazon Video quietly rolled it into a recurring fee. I eventually found the source of the bleeding and shut that down.

Gripe: There seriously should be a LAW that prohibits auto-enrollment after trial periods. If you are able to try one month for free, it should SHUT OFF after the month, so that the consumer is then required to make positive engagement to continue. Of course there will be resistance from providers, because I'm confident there are plenty of people who forget a month or two (or longer) which benefits the providers.

[bjl584]

I recently got auto-enrolled in a magazine subscription after buying something online. I had it cancelled as soon as it showed up, as I had no idea why I started receiving a magazine, but it was annoying.

[myrdale]

A few years ago there was a slip included in my water bill "Congratulations you're auto-enrolled in our new leak protection service." The next month there was a $5 fee or so listed on the bill. I had to go in person to the water department and un-enroll from their insurance program.

I receive quarterly reports from Vanguard for my IRA. Over the last three years they have auto-enrolled me in their paperless reports. Each time I call them up and opt out. Finally they said they are going to start charging me $20 a year for receiving paper statements.

I did see Experian is now offering a service to show all of the subscription services which you're paying for and will unsubscribe you if you like.

It might be a hair off topic, but I found a service, Say Mine, which scans your email account and list all of the companies with you in their system and will request those companies delete your information. Currently they show 126 companies. I have not paid for their service yet ($12/year) but I probably am.

Lastly I've mentioned DeleteMe before. $100 per year service to delete your information from data brokers. Each month that goes by they show more and more sites that have removed me.

I say off topic, but the less companies with your information, the less the chances of data leaks or fraud affecting you.