Beware: iOS Subscription Services May Now Increase Prices Automatically

Apple has updated its rules for app developers regarding the terms and conditions of subscription-based services. What everyone should know now is that, under the new terms, app publishers can increase prices without prompting you to confirm your subscription. As a result, you may notice that you pay more now only on being charged.

While this doesn’t seem too user-friendly, Apple says that it has made this move just to provide a better user experience. In its statement published on May 16, it advocates that decision by the fact that a failure to confirm the subscription with a new price could lead to a much more complicated process of resubscribing. That would take more time and ultimately the same price as if the user remained subscribed.

One might think that various scammers will use this permission as a method to milk their subscribers dry. But there are certain limitations imposed by Apple, violation of which may result in serious problems. First, the app developer may raise the price of subscription-only once a year. Second, the increase should not be above $5 or 50% of the monthly price, or $50 or 50% of the yearly price. And third, this price increase should not violate the local laws of the country where the users live.

In addition, Apple says it will implement a mechanism for updating users of such services about price changes. This may happen via email, SMS, messengers, or within the very app they are using on a subscription basis. Though now users won’t have to confirm their subscription via iTunes, they will still be notified about growing prices early enough to quit if they want.

Do you think these reasons make sense? Would you rather spend more time to confirm your subscriptions in such a case, or let it go under these conditions? Tell us your opinion in the comments if you wish!