W1RFI
join:2003-05-12
Burlington, CT
| reply to JSRoman
Re: Get ready for the fine print
Many businesses are moving toward "adopt out" to whatever they feel they want us to do. I was using Super 8 motels because they were one of the first to offer free wireless in all of their hotels. But every time I did, I got a followup letter, giving me the account number for my enrollment in their awards program. I always cancel any accounts I didn't create, so it was a waste of their time and mine. Of course, they count on most people accepting this and some of them using that account.
Finally, way down the bottom on one of the pages they use for on-line reservations of room, I found the "opt-in" checkbox that they always checked for me when I reserved a room. So "opt in" really won't mean much when other companies pull the same sleaze.
Now that most motels offer free wireless access, or at least low-cost paid wireless access, I rarely use Super 8, mostly because I know that sooner or later, I will forget to unclick that box, and have to waste my time cancelling an account.
The rewards program actually looks a bit interesting, but I don't use any program that signs me up without my express permission, just as a matter of principle. And I consider checking an opt-in box and hoping that I won't notice is not permission.
The ONLY thing that will work to stop sleazy business practices is to not do business with companies that use them.
Unfortunately, in the US at least, that would not leave many companies with which to do business.  |
