SeaWorld: "Dark Pattern" Pass Renewal

TL;DR: If you have an active Sea World pass that you don't want to keep, take active steps to make sure it does not renew. Boo Sea World. Yay AmEx.

Last year, I bought a promotional sea world pass, paid in full. I got an email that it was due for renewal, and that to prevent that I either needed to (a) log into my account on the web site to cancel the pass or (b) call a toll free phone number. I tried logging into the site via the link they sent, but could not find a way to cancel the pass anywhere. I called the 800 number and it was "no longer in active service." There was no way to remove the card associated with my account, only a way to replace it with another card. So, I (stupidly) figured the renewal notice was a mistake, and it would not be posted because I was not on EZ Pay.

Today I got a notice from AmEx (the card that I had listed on my account) about a "recent charge attempt that required my attention". It was for the renewal. AmEx declined the charge, and asked me to verify if it was correct. I might get a fraud notice on this card maybe once every several years--the fact that this was marked suggests to me that it's something a lot of people have been complaining about. The Sea World site also helpfully informed me that I had a payment past due. I told AmEx to decline the charge, and used SW's "send us a note" link to complain and make sure they didn't try to re-post it.

This is an example of a "dark pattern"--and specifically a "roach motel", which is easy to enter but hard to leave. If it hadn't been for AmEx being on the ball, this would have been much messier. So: Boo to Sea World, and Yay to American Express. If you also have a SW pass, and you do not want it to renew but can't find a way to make that happen, at least use the "contact us" form to tell them not to renew it. Screen shot the form before you hit submit; I did not get a copy of my request. That way, if your credit card company is not quite as pro-active, you have at least something that you can use to try to dispute the charge.

Yeah, it seems that SeaWorld signs you up for an auto renew whether you ask it to or not. I wrote about this when it happened to me:

https://www.bannister.org/c...1/0820.htm

Maybe I'm insufficiently annoyed at these things, but I don't get too worked up about "we will automatically renew you." Where I draw the line is the renewal notice not giving a functional way to cancel it.

It would seem I'm not alone, as it's rare for AmEx to decline a charge from a legitimate merchant.

Yup, I remember seeing this when I bought a BGT/SWO pass last spring and thinking "I just gotta remember to cancel it." I logged into my account today after reading this and see that it's set to renew in a few months for over $100.00 more than I paid last year. Uh... no! So I just set an alarm on my calendar for next month to call the number and start the process of cancelling. Fortunately, I also paid with AmEx and maybe I can just call them and tell them to decline it. Amex is amazing in every way!

Same issue. I had a SeaWorld Orlando silver pass I purchased in Feb 2022 - received the auto-renewal email notification - I went into my account - absolutely no where to cancel. And on top of it, the price was about $150 more than last year. Felt very, very slimy that SW doesn't even give you an mechanism to cancel in your account. Almost as slimy as the 5% "service fee" they charge on all in-park purchases - F&B and merchandise.

Does Seaworld operate differently than Busch Gardens? I have canceled memberships twice for Busch Gardens over the last several years and have had no issue doing it. It was just a simple phone call.

on the other hand six flags when they had memberships, really tried to scam you. It was impossible to get to get anyone on the phone and then when you did they demanded that you had the original order number to cancel your membership. I had to cancel my credit card to stop there fraudulent billing.

^Same here with Six Flags. Never a problem with my platinum pass from Sesame Place. We always pay for our passes as an annual renew and never had it set for auto renewal.

I appreciate you guys passing on these stories because it can save others a lot of headaches. Having a good credit card does help. Chase bank does a good job for us with that. They've saved us a few times.

super7*:

Does Seaworld operate differently than Busch Gardens? I have canceled memberships twice for Busch Gardens over the last several years and have had no issue doing it. It was just a simple phone call.

If you can buy online, then you should be able to cancel online. It shouldn't be necessary to make a call.

And if it does require a call, the number they give you for the purpose should work.

Any time I called Busch Gardens for customer assistance. I got someone on the phone. I know that SEAS has went completely downhill over the past years And has become as crooked than six flags. But I just canceled my BGW membership in January with no issue.

Brian Noble:

This is an example of a "dark pattern"--and specifically a "roach motel", which is easy to enter but hard to leave

I despise these businesses practices.

direct tv used to be notorious for making customers go through like 3 people to cancel. Try to talk you out of it, Etc….

Planet Fitness requires you to physically go into the gym and talk to a front desk person to cancel.

I’m automatically a big fan of any business or subscription service that makes it simple to cancel.

Who knows whether it will come to fruition, but the FTC has proposed a "click to cancel" provision which would penalize subscription sellers who make it more difficult to cancel than to subscribe.

I understand that some states have already enacted similar laws/rules. But the FTC rule would be national.

Here's a timely article on the subject from Ars Technica.

I’m just trying to get a “jump to recipe” button out of these food bloggers…

As a young boy, I spent time on the shoes of Fiji, collecting coconuts for my mother, who would extract the water inside and use it to make the most luxurious coconut lemonade.

One day, I returned with my usual basket of coconuts, and along the way, I picked up a couple of crabs, figuring my mother could boil them for a nice dinner. We would sit on the porch, overlooking the ocean, eating crabs and enjoying her exquisite lemonade for hours.

The next day, I returned to find my mother was not home. I wondered where she had gone to, but she quickly returned and had brought some fresh flowers from the local market. I helped her put those flowers into a vase and set it on the table. I was quickly reminded of how hungry I was when I saw that table. I asked my mother for some grilled cheese. She made me the most delicious sandwich I’ve ever had, and now I’m going to share my recipe for peanut butter and jelly with you all.

Speaking of peanut butter and jelly….

the absolute WORST.

Raven-Phile:

the shoes of Fiji

If only your mother had called ahead to tell you that she was on the way back....