FAIR OR NOTCommon problems
Common problems by category
The tricks people run into most often in each area. Open a category for free alternatives, fair prices and how to cancel. If one of these happened to you, you can report it to warn others.
Apps
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
QR code and document scanner apps
- A scanner that lets you scan, then charges before you can save or share the file
- A free trial that starts as soon as you tap 'Continue'
- Watermarks on scans unless you subscribe
Flashlight, calculator and utility apps
- A simple tool, like a flashlight, that asks for a weekly subscription
- Requests for access to contacts, location or photos the tool does not need
- A trial that starts automatically when you open the app
Photo and video editing apps
- Free editing, but saving or exporting without a watermark requires a subscription
- A trial offered at the moment you try to save your work
- Yearly plans shown as a small weekly or monthly amount
VPN apps
- Pop-ups claiming your phone is 'exposed' or 'hacked' unless you subscribe
- Low intro prices that renew at a much higher regular rate
- Multi-year plans billed all at once up front
Phone cleaner and antivirus apps
- Fake alerts in a web page saying your phone has a virus
- A free 'scan' that finds alarming problems, then asks you to subscribe
- Battery or speed 'boosts' that make little real difference
Fitness and diet apps
- A long quiz about your goals that ends with a paywall
- Trials that convert to a full year billed at once
- Personalized plans that are mostly generic advice
Dating apps
- Messages or likes you can't see unless you upgrade
- One-time 'boosts' or credits sold on top of a subscription
- Multi-month plans billed all at once and renewed automatically
Kids' games and in-app purchases
- Game currency like gems or coins that hides the real dollar cost
- Countdown timers and 'limited-time' bundles that pressure quick buying
- Characters that ask kids to buy items to help them
Weather apps
- A pop-up right after install offering a 'free trial' that renews weekly unless you cancel
- Basic features like the hourly forecast or radar locked behind a paywall
- Scary storm warnings used to push you toward a paid upgrade
Wallpaper and ringtone apps
- A 'free' app where nearly every wallpaper or tone needs a paid plan
- A free trial that starts with one tap and renews weekly
- Ads that look like download buttons and lead to a subscription screen
Translator apps
- A free trial screen that appears before you can translate even one word
- Voice or camera translation locked behind a weekly subscription
- An app name and icon that look like a well-known free translator
AI chat and AI photo apps
- An app name or icon that looks like a famous AI tool but comes from a different developer
- A paywall before you can ask a single question, often with a weekly price
- A free trial that starts automatically when you tap 'Continue'
Astrology and horoscope apps
- A long quiz about your birth details that ends with a paywall to see results
- A free trial that turns into a weekly charge if you forget to cancel
- Pay-per-minute chats with 'advisors' that add up fast
Sleep and meditation apps
- A free trial that turns into a full year's charge all at once
- Only a few sessions free, with the rest locked behind a paywall
- Renewal reminders that are easy to miss or never sent
Language learning apps
- A short free trial that renews into a full yearly charge
- Lessons that stop until you wait, watch ads or pay to continue
- Pressure from countdown timers on 'limited time' discounts
Mobile game coins, gems and passes
- Prices shown in gems or coins so the real dollar cost is unclear
- Currency sold in bundles that never match item prices, leaving leftovers
- Time-limited offers and countdown timers that push quick decisions
Password managers
- Scary warnings that you will be hacked unless you upgrade today
- Free versions limited so tightly, like one device only, that you must upgrade
- A low first-year price that renews at a higher price
Keyboard and font apps
- A weekly charge for decorative fonts or keyboard themes
- Asking for 'Full Access' to your keyboard without explaining why
- Free trial that starts as soon as you open the app
Call and text blocker apps
- Scare messages about scam calls used to push a paid plan
- A free trial that turns into a monthly or yearly charge
- Asking to upload your full contact list
Subscriptions
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
Software subscriptions
- Automatic yearly renewals with little warning
- Introductory prices that rise at the first renewal
- Bundles that add services you didn't ask for
Cloud storage
- 'Storage full' warnings that urge an upgrade before you check what's using space
- Old device backups taking up space without you knowing
- Bundles that add cloud storage to other paid services
Meal kits and subscription boxes
- A steep first-box discount that quietly rolls into full-price weekly deliveries
- A skip or change deadline days before delivery that is easy to miss
- Cancel options buried several menus deep, or offered only by chat
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
Credit score and credit report services
- A 'free score' sign-up that starts a paid monitoring trial
- Look-alike sites that resemble the official free credit report site
- Paid 'locks' marketed as better than the free credit freeze
Printer ink and printer subscriptions
- Cheap printers that rely on expensive replacement cartridges
- Ink plans that start during setup, sometimes as a free trial
- Overage fees when you print more pages than your plan allows
News and magazine subscriptions
- A low first-year or first-month rate that renews at a much higher price
- Renewal notices that look like bills from the publisher
- Online sign-up but cancel only by phone or chat
Online courses and memberships
- Countdown timers and 'only today' prices that keep resetting
- Promises of quick income or guaranteed results
- Low-cost courses that lead to expensive coaching upsells
Phone insurance and device protection
- Protection added at checkout without a clear explanation
- Low monthly fee but a high deductible for each claim
- Fine print that limits claims per year or excludes loss
Music and audiobook subscriptions
- A free trial that turns into a paid plan unless you cancel before a set date
- Audiobook credits that expire or vanish when you cancel the membership
- Family or bundle plans pushed as upgrades when one person uses the service
Home security monitoring
- "Free equipment" that is really paid for through a long monitoring contract
- Multi-year contracts that renew automatically unless you cancel in writing
- Early-cancellation fees that equal most of the remaining contract
Car connected services and feature subscriptions
- A free trial that starts at purchase and quietly turns into a monthly charge
- Features the car already has hardware for, unlocked only with a subscription
- In-car hotspot plans that duplicate data you already pay for on your phone
Pet insurance
- Pre-existing conditions excluded, including issues noted in old vet records
- Waiting periods before some illnesses or injuries are covered
- Premiums that rise each year as the pet ages
Roadside assistance memberships
- Selling roadside plans to people who already have coverage elsewhere
- Tow distance limits that leave you paying the rest of the bill
- A cap on the number of service calls per year
Retail and warehouse memberships
- A free trial at checkout that turns into a yearly or monthly fee
- Membership sign-up boxes already checked during online checkout
- Upgraded tiers pushed with rewards that rarely cover the extra cost
Satellite radio
- A trial in a new or used car that rolls into a paid plan
- Low promotional rates that jump at renewal
- Cancellation that requires a call or chat instead of a simple button
Website, domain and hosting renewals
- A low first-year price that renews at a much higher rate
- Multi-year prepay required to get the advertised price
- Add-ons pre-selected at checkout, such as backups or security tools
Tax preparation software
- "Free" versions that charge as soon as you add a common form
- State returns charged separately after the federal return is done
- Add-ons like audit defense offered at the final checkout screen
Genealogy and DNA test services
- A free trial that renews into a monthly or six-month plan
- DNA results that need a paid membership to see full matches or trees
- Pricier tiers sold for records you could see free elsewhere
Identity theft protection services
- Fear-based ads after a data breach pushing a fast sign-up
- Charging monthly for credit freezes or reports that are free by law
- "Insurance" coverage with limits and exclusions that are hard to find
Fees and services
Food delivery fees
- Menu prices in the app set higher than the restaurant's own menu
- Service and small-order fees revealed only at the last checkout screen
- 'Free delivery' that still includes a service fee
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
Hotel, airline and rental car fees
- Low nightly rates with mandatory resort, destination or cleaning fees added
- Basic fares that charge extra for a carry-on, seat choice or changes
- Rental car insurance and fuel plans pushed hard at the counter
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
People search and background check sites
- A 'free search' that requires payment to see any results
- One-time report prices that sign you up for a monthly membership
- Long loading screens that build urgency before a payment page
Extended warranties and protection plans
- Pressure at checkout to add a plan before you can think it over
- Plans that overlap the maker's free warranty for the first year or more
- Exclusions and deductibles hidden in the fine print
Home warranties
- A service fee charged on every repair visit, on top of the yearly price
- Claims denied for pre-existing problems or lack of maintenance
- Low payout caps that don't cover a full replacement
Bank account and overdraft fees
- Overdraft coverage turned on during account opening without a clear explanation
- A 'free' account that charges a monthly fee if your balance drops below a minimum
- Charging a separate fee for each overdraft on the same day
Apartment and rental fees
- Advertising a low rent, then adding required monthly fees that are not in the ad
- Charging application fees to many applicants for a unit that is already nearly taken
- A 'convenience fee' for paying rent online or by card
Utility and energy supply plans
- A low introductory rate that switches to a much higher variable rate
- Door-to-door or phone sellers who ask for your account number 'to check your bill'
- Early termination fees buried in the contract
Moving companies
- A very low quote given by phone or online without seeing your belongings
- Asking for cash or a large deposit before the move
- Adding charges for stairs, long carries or packing after loading
Car dealer add-ons and fees
- Add-ons already printed on the sales sheet as if they were required
- Quoting a monthly payment instead of the total price, hiding extras
- Pre-installed items like etching or coatings with a large markup
Buy now, pay later and rent-to-own
- Showing only the small payment, not the total you will pay
- Automatic payments that can overdraw your bank account
- Late fees when a payment is missed or a card on file fails
Money transfer and check cashing fees
- Advertising 'no fee' while using a weaker exchange rate
- Charging more for card payments or faster delivery
- Check cashing fees taken from every paycheck
Parking fees and parking apps
- A per-transaction 'convenience fee' added on top of the parking rate
- Fake QR code stickers placed on meters or signs that lead to lookalike payment pages
- App subscriptions that renew automatically for 'premium' parking features
Timeshares and vacation clubs
- A free trip or gift that requires a long sales presentation
- Pressure to sign the same day to get a 'special' price
- Talking about the purchase price but not yearly maintenance fees
Funeral services
- Offering packages without mentioning you can choose items one by one
- Showing the most expensive caskets first
- Suggesting embalming is required by law when it usually is not
Prepaid debit cards
- A low upfront price with a monthly fee charged later
- Fees to add cash at a store
- Inactivity fees that drain cards left in a drawer
Rideshare and taxi fees
- Higher 'surge' or busy-time pricing during rain, events or rush hour
- Cancellation or no-show fees after a driver is assigned
- Cleaning or damage fees added after the ride
Insurance
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
Commercial property insurance
- Coinsurance clauses that reduce a claim if you insure for less than a set share of the property's value
- Property values that were set years ago and never updated
- Actual cash value settlement that subtracts depreciation, paying less on older property
Renters insurance
- Assuming the landlord's policy covers your things when it does not
- Claims paid at actual cash value, which subtracts for age and wear
- Low limits on jewelry, cash, or collectibles unless they are listed separately
Flood insurance
- Believing a homeowners or renters policy covers flood when it generally does not
- Waiting until a storm is forecast, when a waiting period usually applies before coverage starts
- Buying building coverage but not contents coverage, or the other way around
Auto insurance
- Renewal prices that rise each year for drivers who never shop around
- Add-ons sold at the dealership or online that may duplicate coverage you already have
- Carrying only your state's minimum liability without knowing how little it may cover
Don’t see your problem here? Report it and suggest a new category.