The Takeaway
- Many online purchases renew automatically unless canceled in advance.
- PayPal and app stores often set up auto-pay agreements by default.
- Renewal notices may land in Gmail’s “Promotions” or Outlook’s “Updates” tabs.
- The FTC’s Click-to-Cancel rule was struck down in court, leaving consumers without new federal protections.
- Seniors can stay in control with a few simple steps: check PayPal, fix inbox filters, and set alerts.
When a “One-Time Deal” Isn’t
Picture this: you’re browsing online and spot a short course that looks interesting. The ad says $6.95 for 7 days of access. Sounds fair — less than the cost of lunch.
You sign up, enjoy the material, and move on. But a week later, as you’re going through your bank statement, something jumps out: Another charge from the same company — this time for $39.95.
What the heck? You never agreed to that. Or at least, you didn’t think you did.
