If you run an online subscription service, don't be like the WSJ.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/companies-mu... (2018)
The flow would go something like this:
I want to cancel my WSJ subscription so I look for my latest WSJ charge on my online credit card statement. On the right hand side there would be an option that allows you to "cancel subscription". Once cancelled, WSJ is notified by the credit card company the customer has cancelled their subscription and WSJ no longer can charge the particular credit card.
If there are contracts involved you might be still on the hook for payment but in this case the provider (WSJ) can no longer charge your the card they had on file for you.
What if you get sent to collections by your provider and your credit is dinged as a result? I don’t believe it is a hypothetical question, it is not too unlikely to happen.
Burn the card, and they can die in a fire.
Yes, you can change your address to anywhere in CA, and suddenly the “unable to process” issue with cancellation online goes away. This is only a problem, maybe, if you’re getting physical delivery elsewhere.
Overall though, it’s a shitshow. I’m curious how their sales funnel works there, and if they have any desire to, say, keep getting $4/month for digital stuff vs. $0/month and eternal hatred, when they try to replace the $4/month (for one year) with $38.99/month.