Welcome back to Subscriptions Weekly! The FTC and DOJ are taking on Adobe for allegedly making it a nightmare to cancel subscriptions—turns out those sneaky tactics might be illegal! Meanwhile, Apple is pulling the plug on its "Buy Now, Pay Later" feature, but don't worry, they’ve got new flexible payment options in the pipeline. Over at YouTube, they're cracking down on VPN tricks to snag cheaper Premium subscriptions, so your hacky ways might be history. And lastly, consumers are saying they’ll shell out for instant refunds—merchants, take note!

The FTC sues Adobe for making it super hard to cancel subscriptions

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice are suing Adobe, claiming the company makes it hard to cancel online subscriptions. According to the lawsuit, Adobe's tricky tactics weren't just frustrating—they were illegal. The case is about Adobe's subscriptions for its design and productivity software. The government claims Adobe violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) by hiding important details in fine print and using obscure links. Read more on Variety.

Apple shuts down Pay Later feature

Apple has decided to shut down its "Buy Now, Pay Later" feature, Apple Pay Later. Launched in October 2023, this service let users split purchases into four payments over six weeks without any interest or fees. However, Apple announced that it's no longer available. The company plans to replace this feature with new options coming later in 2024, including installment loans through eligible credit or debit cards and through a partnership with Affirm. This move is part of Apple's strategy to offer more flexible payment options globally. Read more on The Paypers.

YouTube's cracking down on hacky ways to get cheaper Premium subscriptions

If you used a VPN to get a cheaper YouTube Premium subscription in another country, you might be in trouble. Recently, many people who used this trick reported that their subscriptions were automatically canceled. This workaround involved using a VPN to make it look like you were in a country where YouTube Premium costs less. Read more on The Verge.

Instant refunds? Consumers say they’ll pay for that

Merchants and other senders often don’t offer instant refunds, missing a chance to boost customer satisfaction. Consumers are increasingly eager to get their money back quickly. Businesses that provide instant refund options can attract and keep more customers. Read more on PYMNTS.

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From the Recurly blog