[sherry-sherry]

This: https://imgur.com/a/yQFQRKF is what you see when looking at prices and after clicking Buy Now. It says "annual plan, paid monthly", but doesn't state the fee, it vaguely mentions the price. Clicking 'learn more' does not tell you the fee.

It think it's deceptive, at best.

[amatecha]

I mean, what I see is: A$76.99/mo

The word "annual" doesn't even appear on the first screen anywhere. It's even very easy to miss the word "annual" on the little dropdown on the checkout screen (2nd screenshot). If you are in a rush, it's VERY easy to see numerous line items for "$___/mo" and miss the single instance of the word "annual" in this entire checkout flow.

Where is the link to an agreement that the user has to read to even complete this purchase? Is it just on another step elsewhere in the process?

[thirdsun]

When I read "Annual plan, paid monthly" I expect to be on the hook for the whole year. I wouldn't even assume that there is an option to cancel early.

Apparently the early cancellation fee is 50% of your remaining subscription fees. In other words it's an improvement to the actual terms I signed up for when I agreed to be committed for 1 year. I dont see why Adobe needs to explicitely "warn" customers about an option that is actually beneficial to them (the users, not Adobe).

[sherry-sherry]

Perhaps this is a country/regional thing, but I definitely do not expect to be on the hook for the whole year. In Australia it's quite common to have phone/power/gas/insurance plans that are 1/2 year contracts, but to cancel it you pay a small fee.

If fact, when I think about things I currently pay for, none of them work like Adobe's contract.

- I have a 1 year contract with my energy provider, the cancel fee is ~$45 and I must give them 20 days notice

- My phone has a 24 month plan, to cancel I pay any remaining phone/accessory payments and nothing for the plan, that's it

- My car insurance is paid annually in advance. If I cancel 6 months in they charge a $40 fee and refund me the pro-rata amount for the remaining six months

My point is Adobe could be upfront and clearer with the overall pricing, terms, renewals, and cancel fees — I don't think they are at all.

Edit: fixed some formatting issues

[thirdsun]

It might indeed be a regional thing and I'm not saying that early cancelation is unheard of, but to me it wouldn't be an expectation. Anyway, just a few thoughts:

> In Australia it's quite common to have phone/power/gas/insurance plans that are 1/2 year contracts, but to cancel it you pay a small fee.

> - I have a 1 year contract with my energy provider, the cancel fee is ~$45 and I must give them 20 days notice.

Depending on how small the fee is it sounds as if this renders the concept of a half (or full) year contract worthless.

> My phone has a 24 month plan, to cancel I pay any remaining phone payments, that's it

Doesn't paying the remaining payments mean that you actually pay the full price as agreed to when you signed up? If so, how is Adobe's cancelation fee not an improvement? It is smaller than the remaining payments after all.

> My point is Adobe could be upfront and clearer with the overall pricing, terms, renewals, and cancel fees — I don't think they are at all.

I still disagree. If I sign up for an annual subscription I have no expactation of getting out of it early. That's what the monthly subscription is for. If they offer a way to cancel early despite my annual commitment that's a bonus which can be advertised, but doesn't have to be (again, why should they? That's what the monthly subscription is for).

[Meph504]

it clearly says "annual plan, paid monthly" which is what you are signing up for, a year long obligation, with installment payments.

if you click the drop down, it shows you not only your other options but also the prices.

https://i.imgur.com/CZSCvw8.png

[cbmuser]

> it clearly says "annual plan, paid monthly" which is what you are signing up for, a year long obligation, with installment payments.

It seems that a lot of people in this thread don’t seem to know the fundamental principle of contracts: Pacta sunt servanda, i.e. contracts are supposed to be fulfilled.

[sherry-sherry]

That is the wrong price.

The annual prepaid amount is different from the annual, paid monthly price.

[Meph504]

Yes, the annual plan paid monthly cost more, Adobe wants the money up front, so you pay more for speadinng the payments over a year.

[sherry-sherry]

My issue is Adobe never shows the total you will pay over 12 months for the ‘annual/paid monthly plan’, nor do they show the cancel fee.

They could be clear and upfront with it, but aren’t... can’t imagine why.

[Meph504]

It goes month to month after 12 months, it doesn't stop, but I grant you sure they could make their own deals sound less appealing, but without a law forcing them too, they aren't going to.

This right below the button you press to start your subscription.

  By clicking "Agree and subscribe," you agree: You will be charged US$52.99 (plus tax) monthly and at the end of your one-year term, your subscription will automatically renew monthly until you cancel (price subject to change). No annual commitment required after the first year. Cancel anytime via Adobe Account or Customer Support. Cancel before Apr 26, 2021 to get a full refund and avoid a fee. You also agree to the Terms of Use and the Subscription and Cancellation Terms.

I mean, at some point, you are responsible for the financial transaction you make, this person that is playing the victim in this case had several chances to see what they were purchasing. They wanted a lower price, and signed up for it, they are acting like they are a victim of some trickery.

They made a mistake, adobe honored the subscription, and they should too, take it as a life lesson to pay more attention before obligating themselves.

People need to learn to treat transactions and contracts as a hostile situation and they can easily do themselves great harm by blindly ignoring the terms of a deal and some how thing it will be to their benefit.

[sherry-sherry]

This could be a country specific thing but Adobe’s Australian site does not say that at all, quite the opposite. It doesn’t even state the monthly price in the terms, just refers to them.

> “ Your subscription will automatically renew annually without notice until you cancel. You authorize us to store your payment method(s) and to automatically charge your payment method(s) every month until you cancel. We will automatically charge you the then-current rate for your plan, plus applicable taxes (such as VAT or GST if the rate does not include it), every month of your annual contract until you cancel.”

Adobe will renew it for another year at whatever rate they choose without notice.

I agree people should be more responsible in general with contracts, but it should be standardised. Australia’s design for the critical information sheet is great, it clearly shows what your paying, for how long, and for what. It’s got a similar design across companies too.

I believe with any contract that involves money over time, the total amount (including any fees) should be clear. I don’t think Adobe has made them clear.

I do note that the contract terms differ country to country so this might be more/less applicable to some. The part you quoted seems more reasonable.

[ziml77]

How is it deceptive? They don't even need to let you cancel if they don't want. The point of the annual plan is that you're accepting the obligation of paying for a full year.

[sherry-sherry]

At no point are you told what the total for the 12 months is, nor are you told the minimum cancellation fee.

[thirdsun]

I think it's reasonable to assume to a user is able to multiply a monthly fee by the number of months in a year.

[sherry-sherry]

Can't Adobe? We know they can, I believe they should be required.