Mercury News: Cancelling my Subscription

After the sign-up teaser rate, payments are markedly higher

Last year we signed up for the San Jose Mercury News electronic-only subscription at the $14 per month discounted rate. When it raised the price in December, we acquiesced to $28/mo., which seemed right-priced because the San Francisco Chronicle ($34/mo.) and Wall Street Journal ($39/mo.) both of which in my opinion had more content, superior reporting, higher quality, and better writing.

In June the Mercury News billed my credit card a fee of $47, which I thought was so out of line from the previous month's $28 that it must have been a mistake or included some non-recurring charges. In July the Mercury News charged $49.

I called customer service to cancel the subscription. I did ask the representative if the Merc had erred by thinking that I had a print subscription. No, she knew I was e- only. I explained that I was upset at their billing practices. She offered to lower the price to $14 per month. How long would that rate be good for? She evaded an answer. She threw out an offer of $4 per month when I didn't budge. At that point there was no price--even zero--at which I would continue to do business.

The CSR said that my subscription will end on July 25th and billing will cease. We'll see; trust is easily lost and difficult to restore.