online
What rights go with a paid subscription?
<p>When a platform has the right to kick you out as they deem fit, without any evidence why they did it, does that change if you have a paid?</p>
<p>Because this is going on with me. I'm on a platform where you can post stories. I'm fully aware of the rules and I feel like I haven't posted any content that violated the rules. The platform is free but if you don't want ads and stuff, you can buy a subscription to be a member - and I paid 40 dollars for that. Almost 2 weeks ago, I got an email saying that they took down my work but nothing further. My account seemed to be lost as well but I never got any emails about that. When I asked what I did wrong, I never got an answer. It's been 2 weeks now and I've been ignored or asked to send in a ticket for my problem. I obviously already did that, but the tickets stay unanswered and all other company help options send me to open a ticket again, which gets me back to the beginning again. If I truly have other opinions than they have, and I have violated the rules in their eyes, I feel they can show that to me. But right now, I don't know anything about why I can't log in. The autoreply email only says that I MIGHT have violated the rules and therefore MAY not be able to log in. I don't know what to do and I feel it's all very unfair.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>When a platform has the right to kick you out as they deem fit, without any evidence why they did it, does that change if you have a paid?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It depends on the purpose of payment and the terms &amp; conditions it triggers.</p>
<p>Your description reflects that payment entitles the user to have no ads &quot;and stuff&quot; (?). Payment does not necessarily entitle the user to continued access, diligence from customer service, or other features.</p>
<p>Without fully knowing the platform's terms &amp; conditions regarding payment it is impossible to identify what obligations (other than not displaying advertisements) your payment creates on the platform. The information you provide here is insufficient for assessing whether you have a viable claim such as <em>fraud</em> or <em>breach of contract</em>.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the platform's apparent arbitrariness and lack of response might support a finding of <em>unfair or deceptive practices</em> if the platform does not honor or proportionally reimburse your payment. Many jurisdictions have legislation prohibiting practices which are unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable (example: <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(e0qmtqrce1xiajh5wt2w5opw))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&amp;objectname=mcl-445-903-amended&amp;query=on" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MCL 445.903</a>). Oftentimes statutory law establishes an agency in charge of addressing customers' complaints.</p>

<p>The public <a href="https://policies.wattpad.com/terms/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Terms of Service</a> states that</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Wattpad may change, terminate, or restrict access to any aspect of the
Services, at any time, without notice</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and</p>
<blockquote>
<p>we will also terminate a user’s account if the user is determined to
be a repeat infringer</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We may suspend or terminate your account or cease providing you with
all or part of the Services at any time and for any reason we deem
appropriate. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you by the
email address associated with your account or the next time you
attempt to access your account.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is possible that the paid versions offer you more protection against cancellation.</p>
<p>The final clause regarding notification seems to have been satisfied, though not to your satisfaction (you did get notification that you were terminated). There is no indication that you get to argue with them over a termination; they basically say &quot;Sue us in Ontario&quot;. They are not required to justify their decision to you, but if you sue them in Ontario, it's <em>possible</em> that the court will ask why they did so. Since the contract allows arbitrary termination, their reason would mostly be irrelevant, since it is their right. The specifics of the premium contract would matter: I don't see what $40 would correspond to, but maybe a year's subscription paid in advance. In that case, because it saves you some money to pay in advance, there is probably a clause about cancellation and refunds that doesn't work to your benefit.</p>
