CANCEL MY PLAN - ARLO IN VIOLATION OF 16 C.F.R 425 (NEGATIVE OPTION RULE) & FTC ACT

[Deceptive_Arlo]

DEAR ARLO,

AFTER REVIEW OF 16 C.F.R. 425, AND SECTION 5 OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT, ARLO TECHNOLOGIES IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION DUE TO CLEAR ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES, CAUSING PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL INJURY, STEMMING FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION'S YOUR RELUCTANCE TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO CANCEL THROUGH YOUR WEB INTERFACE OR APPLICATIONS.

A PROPOSAL TO MODIFY THE NEGATIVE OPTIONS RULE IS ONGOING, BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PROPOSAL IS APPROVED.   RECENT CASE LAW NOW SHOWS THE FTC HAS AN EVEN BROADER REACH TO REIGN IN COMPANIES OF YOUR CALIBER.  LIMITATIONS IN THE EYES OF THE SHERMAN ACT CANNOT BE APPLIED HERE AS THEY ONCE WERE.  I'M CERTAIN THAT CASES WITH OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE WILL BE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF FROM 2023 FORWARD.

THE EVIDENCE, PROVIDED THROUGH THE MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT WEBSITE IS SO OVERWHELMING AND PLENTIFUL THAT ANY JUDGE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE COULD NOT TURN THEIR HEAD AND RULE AGAINST THE USERS OF YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN A COURT OF LAW.

ARLO'S REFUSAL TO ENABLE A CANCEL BUTTON ON MY.ARLO.COM, HAS MADE THE PROCESS CANCELLING A LABORIOUS ACTIVITY.  THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR, BY PREVENTING USERS FROM CANCELING AS EASILY AS THEY FORKED OVER THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY.  

FURTHERMORE, YOUR CANCELLATION COMMUNITY SUPPORT ARTICLE DECEPTIVE DIRECTS USERS CAN CANCEL THROUGH A DETERMINED SET OF STEPS, BUT THOSE STEPS DO NOT WORK.  REMOVAL OF THE CANCEL BUTTON PLACES AN IMPEDIMENT UPON YOUR USERS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT EXIST.  USERS DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE ENGERY TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO ALLOW YOU TO RAKE IN THE PROFITS FROM CUSTOMERS GIVING UP ON FIGURING OUT HOW TO CANCEL.    

YOUR SUPPORT WEBSITE CLEARLY DIRECTS CUSTOMERS WISHING TO CANCEL THEIR PLANS, TO DO SO AT MY.ARLO.COM > SETTINGS > SUBSCRIPTION > CANCEL., BUT THE BUTTON ISN'T THERE.  THE CANCEL BUTTON HAS BEEN GONE LONG ENOUGH THAT THERE ARE NOW ENDLESS TRAILS OF PROOF IN THE FORM OF SUPPORT COMMUNITY POSTS. 

WHEN YOU PUT UP BARRIERS FOR CUSTOMERS, E.G., REMOVING THE CANCEL BUTTON, YOU PROVIDE GROUNDS FOR CLASS ACTIONS TO ENSUE.  BUT AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, ADDING THE CANCEL BUTTON AND THE FUNCTIONALITY IS EASY AND CAN BE DONE IN MINUTES.

I HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS:

1) ADD THE CANCEL BUTTON BACK TO THE PAGE WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE DIRECTED.  IF THE BUTTON IS PLACED ELSEWHERE COMPARED TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, UPDATE THE INSTRUCTIONS AND TELL YOUR CUSTOMERS.   THERE'S NO MOUNTAIN SO TALL IN YOUR WORLD THAT SHOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. 

2) TAKE THE HIT FROM YOUR CUSTOMER'S NEWFOUND FREEDOM TO CANCEL   ALLOWING THE MONEY YOU LOVE SO MUCH TO LEAVE IF IT WANTS, MAY ALLOW FOR IT TO COME BACK AGAIN.  ALTHOUGH IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU REBUILD YOUR PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND COMPANY PRACTICES IN A VERIFIABLE AND ETHICAL WAY.  NO LONGER SHOULD YOU LIVE OFF OF PAYMENTS FROM CUSTOMERS THAT ARE UNHAPPY AND WISH TO LEAVE, BUT ONLY PAYING YOU BY DEFAULT OF NOT FINDING THE CANCEL BUTTON.

3) CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION BY THE END OF THIS WEEK (03NOV2023).  IF MY SUBSCRIPTION IS NOT CANCELED BY EOB ON FRIDAY, THAT WILL PUT ME ONE STEP CLOSER TO TAKING STEPS TO MOUNT A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST ARLO TECHNOLOGIES ON THE BASIS OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE AND DECEPTIVE CONCERNS.

IN THE CONTEXT OF ONGOING CLASS ACTION SUITS, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT FURTHER CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST ARLO TECHNOLOGISTS COULD MEAN THE END FOR ARLO TECHNOLOGIES.  UNDERSTANDING THAT POTENTIAL ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMPANY, PLEASE CONSIDER ALL THREE (3) REQUESTS AS MANDATORY,  RATHER THAN OPTIONAL.

SINCERELY YOURS,

A CUSTOMER CONCERNED FOR YOUR WELLBEING

[JamesC]

Changing and cancelling your subscription can easily be done by logging into your Arlo account using the web client or by using the Arlo Android app. Depending on which user interface you have, the steps to do so may be slightly different.

If your account shows "library" follow the instructions here: https://kb.arlo.com/1215141/How-do-I-change-or-cancel-my-Arlo-subscription-plan

If your account shows "Feeds: follow the instructions here: https://kb.arlo.com/000063052/How-do-I-change-or-cancel-my-Arlo-subscription-plan-Arlo-Secure-4-0

If you're still experiencing an issue, I encourage you to reach out to the Arlo support team using the Arlo app under Settings > Support for further assistance.

JamesC