How to avoid automatic subscription renewal

Fortunately, there's an easy solution: cancel your account. Yep, just push that big red button (well, actually, it's a smallish grey button, but you get the idea). You'll still get to play until the time you've paid for runs out. And since Blizzard retains your character and account info indefinitely, you don't have to worry about your characters getting deleted. At the end of the time you've paid for, when you try to log in, you'll get a notice that your pre-paid time has been used up, at which point you can go on the web site and add whatever payment method you like.
I've used this method many times myself. It's only a few extra clicks, and if you want to have more control over how you get billed, it's definitely worth considering, even if it does make the peons cry.






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RogueJedi86 Feb 20th 2009 5:05PM
I've used that system for years, going back to Star Wars Galaxies. I have the funds, I just like to subscribe each month on my own terms. Plus you know how random emergencies can sap your bank funds. Best to keep that in check.
I do feel bad when I make the peon cry, and have to write out a reason why I'm canceling through. :(
Clevins Feb 20th 2009 5:18PM
I've never understood the 'i want to renew on my own terms'... if you're going to renew anyway, why do the manual renew each month? You don't get a discount for coming back, you have to do extra stuff ... You can swtich cards without cancelling, so that's not it.... I just don't get it (aside from moving from a credit card to a game card).
RogueJedi86 Feb 20th 2009 5:21PM
Because WoW is a leisurely activity, it has lower priority. If something comes up and I'm unable to play for a few months, the auto-renew will blow money on a game I'm not playing. Plus like I said about unexpected emergencies coming up that require all the funds in your bank account. Auto-renew puts it into negative numbers and you find yourself in the red.
Keyra Feb 20th 2009 5:27PM
@Clevins - although my own account is (currently) set for an auto-renew, I can most definitely see the reason why some people opt for the "renew on my own terms", and that is primarily due to our current economy.
Say that you have rent coming due, but at the same time, you had to pay for a new tire thanks to our "wonderful" roadways here in the US these days (street sweepers? What are they? Oh, those annoying boxy vehicles we occasionally see at 2:00am...we can't afford those anymore...well, at least that's the case here in Texas) and now you're a bit strapped, so that extra $15.00 may not seem like much, but it may also make the difference in being late with the rent (late fees) or running the risk of an overdraft charge.
Many of us live paycheck-to-paycheck these days (I'm one of them, for the moment...I have a new budget plan drawn up that I will stick to like glue, but it won't be until April before I see any real savings) so having the freedom to withhold Blizzard withdrawing that $15.00 from your account while you go on a one or two week sabbatical may well be a boon toward keeping a roof over your head, gas in your tank, food on your family (thanks, GWB, for the awesome quote) or whatever.
Game cards are a way to help out with this, as is just paying whenever you can. No, you don't save anything, but at the same time you also have better control over your finances.
Zeplar Feb 20th 2009 5:06PM
You can tell that the writers are just screaming in frustration that they can't find more hidden Ulduar information.
Kraf Feb 20th 2009 5:16PM
/lawl
rogue Feb 20th 2009 5:15PM
I hope you're not getting paid per word, because that was pretty short.
/harsh?
Jason Feb 20th 2009 5:19PM
One note about this practice, previous downtime credits have required having an active account.
I'm not sure about this, and can't check right now, but I think your account status changes to "cancelled" once you cancel recurring payments. I may be wrong, please downvote me if I am. I seem to remember missing a credit at one point due to this cancel/renew behavior.
Adamanthis Feb 20th 2009 7:20PM
I've always cancelled and renewed, and I believe I've always gotten the credits. Though even if I didn't, I still end up saving a lot more in the long run, since I often take time off from the game before renewing.
rosencratz Feb 20th 2009 5:25PM
I've heard that this was the case but oddly for me every time my subscription ends i have to go manually subscribe again by hand, which i've never minded.
Not sure why everyone else gets auto re-subscriptions and not me though.
AyaJulia Feb 20th 2009 5:29PM
If you're paying with a credit card, there should be some options like "1 month recurring, 3 months recurring" etc... the "recurring" bit is the auto-renew, so make sure you're choosing an option with that listed.
Also, make sure you aren't out of money. If your bank account habitually sits at $3 at midnight when Blizz asks for a subscription fee but your paycheck gets deposited at 8 AM when you want to renew, you'd be cancelled.
Thyrial Feb 20th 2009 5:29PM
Just a note for those that don't like having subscriptions instead of doing this you can also just purchase game time from the Blizzard store each month. They give you a code to redeem in the same manner as a game time card.
Etsu Feb 20th 2009 5:48PM
Great point. I've considered going to a month-to-month system myself but one of the main things holding me back is the hassle of driving to the store to buy a game card. Plus all the waste of packaging and gas just to get a little piece of plastic that I'll throw away after 2 minutes.
Draenors Feb 20th 2009 5:29PM
Just because they are peons doesn't mean they don't have feelings. You're a cruel and horrible person :(
Hoops Feb 20th 2009 5:33PM
slow news day i guess :p
Mattimus Feb 20th 2009 6:14PM
Quite an understatement, if you ask me.
Taladan Feb 20th 2009 5:36PM
Which leads to another problem: How do you avoid the stupid "the peon is sad now" message. I mean, what's the point about that? Making me feel bad about canceling my account? Way to go, Blizzard.
Muse Feb 20th 2009 6:24PM
I use one-time credit cards to pay for the subscription, it's a safety feature offered by online banks, that prevents anyone else from using a card's number, making it safer to give the information out. The card has a 1-month duration, so when it's time for auto-renew, there is no active card associated with the account to draw money from. No sad peons that way.
Todd Feb 20th 2009 5:54PM
What if I want to just change the payment method from credit card to game cards? I'm going to be moving out of country in April and will be cancelling my credit cards and buying some game cards before I go. Is there really no other way than to cancel the account?
Rhys Feb 20th 2009 6:01PM
When you cancel the account, you're only really cancelling your credit card subscription. There's no penalty for hitting the cancel button and then using the game card. You won't even have to stop playing.