FAIR OR NOTFair or not? You decide.
Hidden fees. Support that ends so you’ll buy new. Fine print you can’t negotiate. An agent who works for both sides. Here’s how each one works, the other side of the story, the options you’re often not told about, and what other people think.
Be one of the first to vote.
What’s it about?
Pay
What you’re chargedOverpricing, junk fees, free-trial traps, subscriptions and the new ways companies charge more.
65 areas · 18 tactics →Own
What happens after you buySupport that ends, forced upgrades, features taken away, repairs blocked and deals that change after you paid.
7 issues →Agree
What you sign or clickFine print, forced arbitration, terms that change anytime, non-competes, leases, HOAs and non-refundable deals.
6 issues →Trust
Who is really on your sideConflicts of interest: dual agency, commissions, paid rankings, fake reviews and referral kickbacks.
6 issues →Help
Getting a problem fixedNo way to reach a human, store credit instead of refunds, warranty runarounds, account lockouts and ignored complaints.
5 issues →Data
What happens to your informationData brokers, cars and TVs that track you, health apps that share, location data for sale and accounts you can’t delete.
6 issues →Read both sides, then vote
Windows 10 end of support
Is it fair to push Windows 10 owners to pay for updates or buy a new PC when their computer still works?
Lifetime software deals that change later
Is it fair to sell software with free or lifetime updates, then start charging for those updates later?
Forced arbitration and class-action bans
Is it fair to make customers give up their right to go to court or join a class action?
No way to reach a human
Is it fair for a company to give you no way to reach a real person when something goes wrong?
Cars sharing your driving data
Is it fair for your car to report how you drive to data companies that insurers use?
Paid rankings and fake reviews
Is it fair when "best of" lists and reviews are shaped by who pays?
Browse by area of life
What people run into most
A few of the 65 areas we cover, with the tricks that show up again and again.
Streaming services
- Free trials that roll into paid plans without a reminder
- Price increases announced by email that are easy to miss
- Ad-supported plans that cost less but still show many ads
TV remote apps
- A 'free' download that asks for a weekly payment before any buttons work
- A short free trial that quietly turns into a paid plan
- Ads that make the app look like it comes from your TV's maker
Gym memberships
- A low monthly rate with a separate yearly fee billed months later
- Contracts that renew automatically after the first term
- Cancellation only in person or by certified mail
Event ticket fees
- Fee labels like 'service fee' that do not say what the fee pays for
- Countdown timers that push you to buy before comparing prices
- Resale listings that look like official tickets at much higher prices
Internet, cable and phone bills
- Promo prices that jump after 12 or 24 months without a clear reminder
- Monthly fees to rent a modem or TV box you could replace
- Extra line items added after the advertised price
Homeowners insurance
- Wind or hurricane deductibles set as a percentage of the home's insured value, which can be far larger than a flat deductible
- Coverage limits that do not match today's cost to rebuild the house
- Policies that renew automatically at a higher price with little notice beyond the bill
The new ways you pay more
Monthly fees for features already in your car, add-ons nobody prices, fees that cost them nothing.
Feature subscriptions
The part is already in your car or device. You pay monthly just to switch it on.
How it works →Add-ons with no price
A friendly question like "want cheese on that?" can quietly add a charge to your bill.
How it works →Fees that cost them nothing
Convenience, paper, and admin fees often charge you for something cheap or free for them.
How it works →Drip pricing
The first price looks great. Then fees drip in, one by one, until you reach checkout.
How it works →Shrinkflation
Smaller packages and cheaper quality at the same price. How to spot it and compare.
How it works →Tip requests everywhere
Tip screens at counters and kiosks. When a tip is expected and how to choose No Tip.
How it works →Take back control
Find every subscription, set trial reminders, and write cancellation and dispute letters. Runs in your browser.
Statement scanner
Find every recurring charge and price increase in your bank and card statements. Files never leave your device.
Subscription tracker
List what you pay for, see the yearly total, and mark what to cancel. Stays on your device.
Free-trial reminder
Add a reminder to your calendar before a free trial turns into a charge.
Cancellation letter writer
Write a clear cancellation request to send by email, chat or mail.
How this site works
What belongs on this site?
Anything a business, landlord, agent or service does that seems unfair to you: what you were charged, what happened after you bought, what you were asked to sign, who was really working for you, getting help when something went wrong, and what happened to your information. If it seems unfair to you, you can share it.
Who decides what is fair?
You do. Each issue page explains how the practice works, why many people object, and the business’s side of it. Then visitors vote Fair or Not fair. Votes and shared experiences are visitors’ opinions, not AblePro’s.
Is my experience published right away?
No. Every report is reviewed against the posting rules before it appears. Your email address is never shown, and you can post with a first name, initials or anonymously.
Will this get my money back or fix my problem?
Not by itself. Each page lists the options you may not be told about and the official places to complain. Sharing here warns others; the agencies and steps on each page are how you push for a fix.
Tell people what happened
Reports are reviewed before posting. Your email stays private.