The Economist was reported to the Deceptive Design Tip Line over its subscription cancellation process. According to the report, cancelling a subscription requires the customer to call a call centre or use a live chat, which the reporter characterised as a use of friction and social pressure to inconvenience those attempting to cancel.
‹ All examples The Economist
The Economist: Requires call or chat to cancel subscription
“The Economist requires you to call a call center or use a live chat to cancel your subscription. This is a use of friction and social pressure to inconvenience those attempting to cancel.”
Disclaimer: examples in the Hall of Shame are generally drawn from public submissions and cited sources; they have not been independently verified and may contain inaccuracies. They are presented as illustrations of design patterns, not findings of fact, unlawful conduct, or intent.