Im pretty new on this site also, but i noticed many of the same concerns/complaints on GPT sites...first off, when using a credit card/debit card...u must first know that even tho debit cards carry the visa/mastercard logo..they are not one an the same..*The Debit Card is a deposit access product where you are using your OWN money in your bank account through the Debit Card. Whereas the Credit Card can be called as an equivalent of a LOAN forwarded by the bank whenever you are using it. You get a temporary credit for an average of 45 days depending on the card issuer and billing cycle*..Money from a debit card is ur own, and if u are tight with finances I probably wouldnt use a debit card, because as the poster above noted..some of the trial offers take the amount of the trial right off the top..an most people on a tight budget DO NOT want to see such a charge show up when they may have bills to pay.
(another GPT site claims this was due to so many people signing up for trials then cancelling almost immediately. If using debit cards, make sure u read the TERMS on the products site carefully, and make sure when u check ur account balance u will have enuff money to cover the cost if it happens to show up..(they will refund ur money when ur trial is up if u no longer care for the product)
BANK FEES ARE NO JOKE...
I hope at least some of this info is helpful to people
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218d.cfm
That sure helped, thanks Lendal.
However, I'm not sure if the sites' TOS can be trusted.. since I've read them and the FAQs for blockbuster and netflix, they said the charge fee would be given back to us, and the $9-$10 charge was to verify the account but I've yet to see those deposits. Maybe, I've to wait longer.
So, to other newbies out there.. *Think about it* ..and yes, if you're financially tight, take lendal's advice.
I'll let anyone know if I get anything back from the sites, so that anyone new won't make the same mistakes or give up two good offers.
I deal with Netflix & the charge is as follows:
When you sign up for the 2 week Free trial, you pick a package. Whatever the amount of the package is, it will show up as a "hold on funds" on your bank account/credit card. For instance, when I signed up for it, I picked the 4 out at a time trial which was $24.99. That was a hold of funds on my bank account (as I used my debit card). Depending upon your Banks policies, the hold will normally lift within a few days. Mine lifted in 3.
This is done as a way for Netflix to verify that your account is genuine and actually belongs to you. Nothing is actually deposited into your account & nothing is taken out. An amount is just held during the verification proccess. So if you do decide to go with Netflix, make sure to have the proper funds in your account/on your CC.
Then after 2 week trial is up, you will be charged the monthly fee & amount will be whatever package you chose.
I don't know how Blockbuster works but sure it's pretty much the same.