Smugmug cancellation policy - is it even legal? Rant

I cancelled Smugmug last week (a work account; I'm still happy with my personal account). I was very surprised to learn they don't honor the remaining subscription time!

Seems to me; they should either refund the unused prorated amount or keep it open for the prepaid time remaining.

I didn't actually need it to remain open; it's just the principle of the matter.

Does anyone know the California law on subscriptions & fee retainment for early cancellation? At the least; I'd expect them to be obligated to have an option to keep it open until expiration.

Hmm, is that actually their cancellation policy like written somewhere?

Hopefully not, I would give them the benefit of doubt that the person who cancelled it didn't realize it was prepaid to a certain date and just cancelled it because they saw the request to cancel it.

Was it a ticket you opened or is there an official automated cancellation process?

The problem is this: they require auto-renewal with a valid credit card on file. If you want to flag the account for expiration when the time comes, you can't. Instead; you have to remember to cancel the day before it auto-renews or loose paid-for time.

You can't even just erase the credit card info; they only allow you to replace it with a valid one.

So; they're accepting money for a service (1 full year) but they don't make it easy to prevent the auto-renewal without loosing part of it.

It's a corporate credit card so even if they gladly refund it; I catch flak from the GM (who now copiously reviews every charge).

Even if it's legal, which I doubt, and abides to their small print; it's a sharp departure from Smugmug's usual "customer first" approach.

NBEast wrote in post #18398679
I cancelled Smugmug last week (a work account; I'm still happy with my personal account). I was very surprised to learn they don't honor the remaining subscription time!

Seems to me; they should either refund the unused prorated amount or keep it open for the prepaid time remaining.

I didn't actually need it to remain open; it's just the principle of the matter.

Does anyone know the California law on subscriptions & fee retainment for early cancellation? At the least; I'd expect them to be obligated to have an option to keep it open until expiration.

Like it or not, I suspect it is legal in virtually all states. Smugmug is very clear on cancellation of their subscription at https://www.smugmug.co​m/about/terms. In the paragraphs below, I've added "bold" and underlining for emphasis.

Thanks for the legwork. I guess it just leaves the court of public opinion.

Its just irking to be cheated by the small print; particularly from a company I've trusted and recommended.

If they received payment for 12 months; they should deliver it. Legal binding or not.