Adobe and it’s saga of subscription fees
The U.S. federal government is suing Adobe for imposing heavy termination fees that harm consumers. Adobe is accused of signing up customers for annualized plans that appear to be monthly, with early termination fees of up to 50% of the remaining annual plan cost. Adobe discloses these fees in small print at the end of the signup process, rather than upfront. The FTC says Adobe forces customers to navigate numerous pages to cancel online, and often disconnects or delays them when cancelling by phone. This has led to customers being repeatedly charged even after cancellation. As a creator, the presenter has long been aware of Adobe’s anti-consumer practices, especially regarding student plans that lock students into year-long commitments. While the presenter believes software companies should charge for their products, they are critical of Adobe’s policies that take advantage of customers just to make more money.
How can I avoid hidden fees when signing up for Adobe services
To avoid hidden fees when signing up for Adobe services, be aware of the following:
Adobe often signs up customers for annualized plans that appear to be monthly, with early termination fees of up to 50% of the remaining annual plan cost. These fees are disclosed in small print at the end of the signup process, rather than upfront. Adobe also makes it difficult to cancel online, often disconnecting or delaying customers when they try to cancel by phone. This has led to customers being repeatedly charged even after cancellation.
When signing up for an Adobe account, carefully review all the terms and conditions, including the subscription and cancellation policies, before providing payment information. Avoid signing up for annual plans, especially student plans, as these often have high early termination fees. Instead, opt for month-to-month plans if available, which allow you to cancel more easily.
Best practices for canceling an Adobe subscription without incurring termination fees
To cancel an Adobe subscription without incurring termination fees, follow these best practices:
- Avoid signing up for annual plans, especially student plans, as these often have high early termination fees of up to 50% of the remaining annual plan cost.
- Opt for month-to-month plans if available, which allow you to cancel more easily without penalties.
- Carefully review all the terms and conditions, including the subscription and cancellation policies, before providing payment information when signing up.
- Cancel your subscription as soon as possible, as the earlier you cancel, the larger the termination fee will be.
- Be aware that Adobe makes it difficult to cancel online, often disconnecting or delaying customers when they try to cancel by phone.
- If you have been subscribed for multiple years, you can likely cancel without issues, as the annual subscription only applies for the first year.
- Avoid signing up for student plans if you are only taking a short course, as you will be locked into a year-long commitment with a high cancellation fee.
Are there any legal actions you can take if Adobe charges termination fees
There are a few legal actions you can take if Adobe charges you termination fees:
The U.S. federal government is currently suing Adobe for imposing heavy termination fees that harm consumers. The FTC alleges that Adobe signs up customers for annualized plans that appear to be monthly, with early termination fees of up to 50% of the remaining annual plan cost. The FTC also says Adobe makes it difficult for customers to cancel online or by phone, often disconnecting or delaying them, leading to repeated charges even after cancellation.
So if you have been charged unfair termination fees by Adobe, you may be able to join or benefit from the FTC’s lawsuit against the company. Additionally, you could file your own complaint with the FTC or your state consumer protection agency regarding Adobe’s deceptive and anti-consumer practices around subscription cancellations and termination fees.
There are other companies that have faced or are facing similar FTC lawsuits for hidden fees and deceptive subscription practices:
The FTC sued Amazon last year for similar issues around subscription cancellations and termination fees. Like the Adobe case, the FTC alleged that Amazon made it difficult for customers to cancel subscriptions and charged unfair termination fees.
This suggests the FTC is actively targeting companies that employ deceptive tactics around subscription services to take advantage of consumers. The Adobe lawsuit appears to be part of a broader FTC effort to crack down on these anti-consumer practices across the tech industry.
