Do you have some special skills that I don't know about?
> Credit cards become invalid in the normal course of human activity
Yes, but it doesn't mean you aren't liable for the charges that get placed on them.
> I usually attempt to cancel the "legitimate" way as well
It seems like you don't actually do it all the time then.
You insist "this can't possibly work." That's funny; it's working for me. Maybe you should try it out?
Or keep paying. It's up to you.
It doesn't come up often, because most places charge you before providing a service. For example, if you have a NYT subscription, and it goes to renew and your credit card has been turned off, you don't actually get your NYT subscription. No services rendered, no accrued charges.
However, if your gym bills your credit card at the end of the month of your membership, then you are still obligated to pay it, even if your credit card has been disabled, because the service has been provided.
Are gyms usually post-paid? Every one I've been a member of (admittedly only 3) has been pre-paid.
does that actually happen? Most places make you pay up front, at least one month's worth, even if they subsequently bill at the end of the month.
In any case "No services rendered, no accrued charges." is actually the case I'm talking about. You pay a month's worth, then forget about the monthly renewals, and they love to keep billing you anyway, but surprise, surprise: the CC declines. At that point, you can decide if you want to keep paying or not. Which is how it should work.
With all due respect your tone made it hard for me to deal directly with your point. But, maybe you only had that tone because I poorly expressed my understanding.