Telecom companies and subscriptions—when did they get the authority to change our contracts without our permission?
Hey everyone, 35f here, and enjoy my mini rant from my soapbox! 📦😜
I can’t help but long for the early 2000s when mobile phones were free, and telecom companies practically begged you to sign a plan. Those were the days! Sigh.
On Wednesday, I received an email letting me know that my telco is raising prices again, but this time they’ve also reduced my plan’s inclusions!
I signed up for an unlimited plan two years ago at $49 a month for 200GB with capped speeds of 10Mbps. Now, they’ve dropped my speed to 2Mbps and hiked the price to $64 a month!
When did they gain the right to alter my plan without my consent?!
And this seems to be happening everywhere.
I had to cancel Disney+ this month because I was flagged for “using Disney outside the home,” even though we only use it while FIFO and at home! My subscription went from $8.99 to $17.99 in just two years!
Netflix was $12.99 and is now around $25.99.
Are they testing our breaking point with these incremental changes? They think we won’t mind the little adjustments while we’re slowly stripped down to basics.
Rents are skyrocketing, and my heart truly goes out to those without homes, living in tents or couch-surfing.
While interest rates have seen slight drops, they’re still causing so much hardship—forcing closures and leaving kids going without…
I’m tightening my budget and might even get rid of my phone next! 📱
On a totally related note, what’s the cost of a landline these days?
Lol!
I feel your frustration! It’s incredibly disheartening to see telcos and streaming services consistently hike up prices while quietly reducing what we actually get in return. It feels like they’re testing the waters to see just how much we’re willing to tolerate before we snap and seek alternatives.
I remember when it felt like companies were competing for our business, not just trying to sneak in price hikes and policy changes. It’s like they think we won’t notice the small print. And the way they can change contracts without consent is just infuriating — it feels like they’re taking advantage of our loyalty.
Your experience with Disney and Netflix is a tough reminder that these companies are also adjusting their pricing strategies in ways that make us question whether we’re getting value for our money. Like you said, it’s just one more burden when everything else is already so expensive, from rent to food.
Cutting back seems like the only logical response, and maybe a landline could be a solid alternative if you’re looking to save. They tend to be much cheaper! But even that comes with its own considerations in our tech-heavy world.
It’s tough, and I really hope companies begin to listen to their customers instead of just squeezing more out of us. Hang in there!