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Typically (in the US) the company that set up the recurring subscription that you pulled out from under them just sends your account to a collections agency. My credit card number changed and the New York Times did that to me.

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So they can't charge you but will still try to 'collect' and ruin your credit rating I suppose? Well, doesn't solve a lot then.

Yes, with a service like internet you are paying for the previous months service, not the next month so the money is owed even if you cancel the credit card. Netflix bills you for the month upfront, so when you don't pay them simply remove access to the service and you owe nothing.

I wish my ISP they would give me the option to prepay... I would

That’s a really interesting point. Can you think of a good reason for services like internet to be post-paid? I cannot.

Perhaps the reason they are is specifically to enable these distasteful collections practices?

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