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Comment by AJ007 | Hacker News Reader

Preventing customers from canceling unwanted services does not mean they owe you money for that service.

Unfortunately, in most places with the rule of law that's for a court to decide -- that's the thing about entering into agreements (even onerous ones). Until a court frees you from your obligation, you're obliged.

Great. Take me to court for $9.99, because you think I wanted a prepaid service I tried to cancel.

They'll wait a few years then send you to collections over the $600, plus $5000 in late fees.

Hard to do with one time use cards that don't link back to a real name or address.

Where do you get such a card? All the virtual card providers I'm aware of use your real information. I'm actually dubious such a card would be legal.

Privacy works by purchasing blocks of prepaid cards and issuing them on demand. So while your bank is linked to the card, the issues cards are not linked to your identity. With privacy, you can use any name and address you like and it will be validated. They use the card number, the CVV and the expiration as the only means of validation.

So this means I can say my name is Fake Customer and I live at 404 Main St, 95111 and it will validate just fine.

This is the same as if you purchased a prepaid visa gift card.

Someone on Hacker News asserting how they believe something should work per their personal ethics and morals does not mean that someone is magically freed from any legal obligations.

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