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OTT Subscription Trap: Nowadays, OTT platforms have become an important part of our entertainment life. From movies to series — they offer a world of entertainment at our fingertips, but a new report reveals a dark side of this world. Almost half of the customers face major hurdles when trying to cancel their subscriptions.
According to a recent survey by community platform LocalCircles, signing up for an over-the-top (OTT) service is easy, but the deliberate complexity of opting out is exactly the opposite, creating a “subscription trap” for millions of consumers.
Why is it so hard to unsubscribe?
The survey collected responses from over 32,000 households across 341 districts, and found that 50 per cent of users had difficulty cancelling their paid subscriptions. The difficulties cited in the reports were varied, ranging from not being able to find cancellation options to being forced to go through a confusing, multi-step process designed to make you give up. These manipulative design tricks, often called “dark patterns,” are intentionally used to retain customers against their will.
The problem also extends to unwanted payments. The report states that 44 per cent of subscribers were charged for auto-renewals they did not want to continue. The issue is particularly widespread, as the survey also found that 79 per cent of households subscribe to two or more OTT platforms, increasing their exposure to these predatory billing practices. Many users discover unwanted charges only when it is deducted from their bank account or credit card.
English (US) ·