Something most people don't know is that any time you authorize automatic payment, or "auto-pay" with any credit card, you have just absolved the credit card company from all responsibility for such billings, and authorized them to bill them to you forever! The problem occurs any time you authorize automatic credit card payment to a vendor or business.

This little glitch is hidden in the fine print of the card agreements of all major credit card companies and is used by them to shirk all responsibility to you as a consumer - their customer. Instead of standing up for your rights they wash their hands of the matter and allow any firm, business, or shylock organization to bill you forever while they (the card company) relinquish all responsibility. In fact, they become complicit in any such claimed billings by authorizing and then passing on the charges under the assumption that they are always legitimate.

Here’s how it works: Once you authorize your satellite TV provider, internet software download store, a utility, or any other company to automatically charge your credit card account – then forever after the credit card company will send their billings on with the full assumption that they are legitimate – even if you cancel the credit card. You’ll see such billings even months after closing the card account! That is outrageous behavior, which unfortunately most people don’t find out about until they face unscrupulous billings from some business or vendor and then find out they can’t escape the billings. Complaining to the card company does no good; they'll just tell you it's your problem. Changing the card number won't help; their computers will simply send the billings through on the new account.

You can “dispute” each billing – every time on a one-to-one basis - but that’s a pain, and if the unscrupulous company claims that their billings are legitimate you’re stuck. And if you don’t pay your credit rating will suffer accordingly. It’s much easier to prevent problems by putting the burden on the billing entity – which is as it should be – by never authorizing such devious practices in the first place rather than having the burden of fighting or reversing improper or dishonest billings laid on you, the consumer.

A great many companies, businesses, and vendors have jumped on this bandwagon because they know that if the credit card company authorizes the charge at the time it is processed, they’ll get paid and you’ll be left holding the bag. You’ll notice numerous and attractively-packaged invitations to set up automatic or “autopay” billing to avoid postage, late fees, etc. Don’t sucker for this ploy. NEVER authorize autopay or automatic credit card charges to protect yourself against firms (of which there all too many these days) that try to sneak in advance payments, unauthorized charges, and never-ending unjustified billings. And protest this unsavory behavior by your credit card company. If worse comes to worst, simply stop using your card as much as possible, and pay by cash or check. There is no reason to put up with card company behavior that doesn’t protect you, the consumer who keeps them in business.