WE SIGN UP FOR ACH (AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE) DEDUCTIONS THROUGH A BANK ACCOUNT OR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT. THIS ALLOWS A VENDOR TO WITHDRAW VARIABLE AMOUNTS OF MONEY (e.g. variable dollar amounts for natural gas bills or electric bills). WE MAY ALSO SCHEDULE AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS OF CONSTANT DOLLAR AMOUNTS (e.g. loan payments or rent payments), OUT OF OUR CHECKING ACCOUNTS.
ANY BUSINESS OR COMPANY WOULD LOVE CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE REVENUE STREAMS FROM RECURRING SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND AUTOMATIC RENEWALS. BOTH ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY AUTOMATIC DEDUCTIONS /PAYMENTS FROM OUR ACCOUNTS. BY THE SAME TOKEN, THESE COMPANIES DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO ASK US IF WE ARE STILL USING, OR STILL FINDING VALUE IN, THEIR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK, DAILY, THE ACTIVITIES OF THESE ACCOUNTS: CREDIT CARDS, CHECKING, SAVINGS, MONEY MARKET, LINES OF CREDIT, MARGIN LOANS, STOCKS, BONDS, REAL ESTATE, CRYPTOCURRENCY, AND ANY OTHER INVESTMENTS.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE VERY SPECIFIC: just the Sunday newspaper, just laptop or desktop web access, just smartphone app access, printed format newspaper, but not digital, etc.
WE MAY ACCUMULATE MULTIPLE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE SAME PRODUCT OR SERVICES (especially if we register with different login names, or different emails)
These are just some of the items and services that we may have signed up for, but no longer require):
Subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, investment letters, and journals (sometimes billed weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually)
Subscriptios to online games
Subscriptions to websites
Subscriptions to discount or bulk buying clubs
Subscriptions to timeshares
Subscriptions to extended warranties
Subscriptions to cable or satellite TV
Subscriptions to extra / premium TV channels.
Subscriptions to a “landline” telephone services
Subscriptions to additional telephone extensions
Subscriptions to additional mobile phones on a group or family plan
Subscriptions to antivirus and anti-malware software
Subscriptions to VPNs (virtual private network for secure internet connections), or fixed IP (internet protocol) addresses
Subscriptions to multiple, personal or professional, email accounts
Subscriptions to website/domain names
Subscriptions to smartphone apps and services
Subscriptions to bookkeeping and tax preparation software
Subscriptions to book clubs
Subscriptions to online/cloud reading services such as Kindle and Nook.
Subscriptions to audio book and podcast services such as Audible, Blinkist, Scribd, etc.
Subscriptions for regular purchases of pet foods, prepared meals, wine clubs, steak clubs, clothing, kids’ educational toys, etc.
Subscriptions to productivity software (e.g. Microsoft Office 365, receipt scanning software, etc.)
Subscriptions for data storage to the cloud, computer backup to the cloud, photograph storage/backup to the cloud
Subscriptions to lawn, tree services, lawn irrigation, pool care,
Subscriptions to heating and air conditioning cleaning services
Subscriptions to legal aid and tax aid services
Subscriptions for automatic refill of medications
“Subscriptions” to life insurance, disability insurance, malpractice insurance, business insurance, business overhead insurance, automobile/vehicle insurance, homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, renter’s insurance, umbrella policy, personal articles insurance, and additional riders on these policies
Subscriptions for automatic refills of household cleaning items, and other consumable goods ( e.g. toilet paper, printer ink cartridges)
“Subscriptions” for PMI ( private mortgage insurance)
Subscriptions to gym and other workout facility memberships
Charles Tadros, M.D.
April 29, 2022
Saint Louis, Missouri