Subscription trap at Web.de: You can do that

At Easter, a very special Easter gift was waiting at Web.de: a subscription trap. Anyone who logged into their mailbox received a friendly Easter greeting. If you then clicked on the wrong button, he already had a subscription. But you can defend yourself against it.

Web.de gave away subscription traps for Easter

• The subscription trap began with the words "Web.de wishes you a happy Easter". If you clicked the right button quickly and annoyed, you had already completed the subscription.
• This happens again and again to users who click too quickly due to habit or because of the colored highlighting of the button.
• Four to six weeks later, the bill goes into the house and all notice periods have passed. So you should act quickly now.

Brazen subscription trap at Web.de is legal

• The company also used the mesh of Web.de at GMX: both services come from the same company. With both email services, there is often advertising for a subscription after logging in, for which users have to look carefully before clicking. Otherwise they have subscribed.
• The Consumer Advice Center North Rhine-Westphalia therefore 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 to have a subscription."
• The system is brazen, but completely legal. Because the button clearly said "Buy". The consumer advice centers therefore advise you to check emails with an email client. To set up the email client, we recommend this guide for GMX, which differs only slightly from that for Web.de.
• In the meantime, Web.de 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.

Web.de subscription completed? So you get rid of it

• As with all subscriptions, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal. You will only receive the first invoice after four to six weeks, as the first month is free for the Easter campaign. But you have to quit now, because after 14 days it is too late by law.
• The easiest way to cancel online: Click at Web.de on the left on "Invoices & Contracts" and then on "Cancel contract". Now follow the termination assistant. Alternatively, you can cancel by phone at 0721 960 99 97.
• Regarding the Easter campaign, Web.de told CHIP: "We have had a goodwill arrangement for years for purchases made by mistake. 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 also help you.

On the next page we explain how you can protect yourself against subscription traps on your mobile phone.