Subscriptions
Do you love getting your newspaper(s) delivered at the extremely low "introductory rate" but hate it when that rate doubles/triples upon expiration? Simply call the newspaper's billing department before your introductory rate expires and ask to extend it (or threaten to cancel). Make sure to find out when the extension will expire so you can extend again, and again, and again! This works, we checked with a few inside sources and given the world of hurt the newspaper industry is in, they are willing to keep subscribers at any cost.
Suggested by: CB in Redondo
Tired of receiving spam after signing up for an online service? Create a disposable email account on the fly. When you're giving out your email, just make one up on the spot, end it with @trashymail.com. You can check your inbox, no password required, at www.mytrashmail.com. Note: There is a more secure temporary trashmail service that is password protected.
Next time you want to purchase something online that requires a credit card but don't want to sign up for the recurring subscription charges; request a temporary credit card number from your bank. Now-a-days most big banks (ex: Citibank) offer disposable credit card numbers for one time purchases. Sign-up and within minutes you will be provided with a temporary card number that will allow you to purchase your item(s) without having to worry about canceling subscriptions. When the merchant tries to re-bill your credit card, their charge will be denied because the card is no longer valid. Pay for what you want, not what they want!
Suggested by: Randall Gooding
Did you know that you can read WSJ articles without paying the annual subscription fee as long as they are "dugg"? Previously there were a couple of complicated hacks, but now it's super easy. You can get free access to the entire Wall Street Journal article when you visit the WSJ web page via digg. Simply subscribe to the following RSS feed and get ready to read.
Note: Those want more specific WSJ content, can modify the search parameters as discussed on lifehacker.com.
Said another way, threaten to quit and get a discount! This is a trick that works with most of monthly subscriptions. If you feel you're paying too much, call and ask what you have to do to cancel your account. More often than not, instead of immediately canceling your subscription, they'll give you a better offer. Another version of this loophole is complaining politely about how much money you're spending on a particular monthly service. For instance, I recently complained about how I was paying $60 a month for Internet access alone; my cable company now charges me $45 a month for the same service. Some times complaining is really just bargaining!
Suggested by: Brent B.
