GMX subscription trap: You can do that

At GMX, a nasty subscription trap lured users of the free account around Easter. Consumer advocates criticized the practices by which GMX wanted to turn its freemail users into premium users. But you can defend yourself against it.

Subscription trap at GMX: This is how GMX tricked its users

• If you logged into your email account at GMX at Easter, you could see a colorful Easter greeting. "GMX wishes Happy Easter" it said.
• To get to the mailbox, customers had to click a button. However, anyone who has clicked on the color-highlighted button as usual has concluded a paid subscription.
• The "Next" and "Buy" buttons were designed in such a way that users took out a subscription out of habit or because of the special emphasis.

Subscription case with GMX: brazen but legal

• The system is not new - GMX very often interposes an advertising page after login, where users have to be careful not to take out a subscription. This is not forbidden, since the button clearly says "Buy".
• For this reason, the consumer advice center recommends that GMX emails be accessed using an email client and not via the GMX website.
• The consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia said: "We think the pages are click-traps because of their placement in the registration process and because of their design. Those who are affected always complain to us who never wanted a subscription."
• In the meantime, GMX has adapted the design of its advertising and introduced two buttons of the same color: the right one forwards to the mailbox, the left one concludes the subscription.

GMX subscription accidentally closed: How to cancel successfully

• Basically, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal. As the first month of GMX's Easter campaign is free, you will not receive an invoice at the beginning. You have to quit anyway, because after 14 days it is too late by law.
• You can cancel by calling GMX customer service at 0721 960 98 10 and 0721 960 99 99 (Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
• Alternatively, you can click on "My Account" after logging in. Then you can choose "Cancel contract" and let the assistant guide you through the individual steps.
• You can also cancel as a registered letter. Then the post goes to GMX GmbH, Brauerstraße 48, 76135 Karlsruhe.
• Regarding the Easter campaign, GMX told CHIP: "We have had a grace period for purchases made by mistake for years. One call or email is enough and we cancel the contract." This also applies beyond the statutory period.
• If you have problems with your termination, the consumer advice centers throughout Germany will help you.

Our tip: This is how you can protect yourself effectively against subscription traps on your mobile phone.