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This originally came up in another thread but it might be of interest to potential DDI subscribers (I know it was to me ):

You must click the box for "auto-renewal" before your subscription can be confirmed (there is no other option given). This means you will automatically be re-subscribed at the end of each billing period . . . unless you cancel the auto-renewal. This is from the DDI FAQ:

How do I turn off stop auto-renew on my subscription?

To stop auto-renew, you will need to fill out a form to contact our billing specialists.

First, make sure that you are logged into the Wizards of the Coast website. Once you have logged in, click here to open the form. You will need to provide your first name, last name, and the last five digits of the credit card used when you purchased your D&D Insider subscription.

In the subject and message fields please indicate that you want to stop the auto-renew feature of your subscription. You should recieve a response within two days of submitting the request.

For customers who want to purchase the three-month or year subscription, auto-renewal shouldn't be too much hassle. They only need to cancel the auto-renew once every few months or every year.

What about customers who only want to buy the single month subscription however, the more occasional subscriber? Will we need to fill out a form each and every time? Is there a simpler, more direct way to handle this? As it is now, there's human interaction to consider and cancellation isn't instantaneous (or guaranteed if human error enters into the equation).

I'd really like to purchase a subscription but I'm uncomfortable with the way this is set up currently. If auto-renewal has to be a part of the deal (like it or not), please consider making cancellation instantaneous, no delay, and no human interaction. Better yet, have an option for it to be avoided altogether. If this can be achieved, I'll be quick to reconsider purchasing a subscription.

[Edit] Here's some more info on auto-renewal (from the FAQ) that may be of interest:

What is auto-renewal and how does it affect my Dungeons & Dragons Insider subscription?

Auto-renewal allows you to sign up for a subscription plan that works for you, and then easily maintain that subscription through each billing period.. This means if you sign up for a month subscription of Dungeons & Dragons Insider, one month from the date that you started your subscription, your credit card will be charged for another month and your subscription will automatically be renewed. This will happen until you decide to turn off your auto-renew.

Auto-renewal Terms and Conditions
By checking the box (when making a D&D Insider order) and providing your credit or debit card billing information, you agree that your product subscription will automatically renew for successive renewal terms, and you expressly authorize and permit Digital River, Inc. (“DR” to bill each product subscription renewal fee to the credit or debit card you have provided, until you cancel the automatic renewal and billing of your product subscription or DR discontinues the automatic renewal and billing option.

You have complete control over your product subscription and may cancel your auto-renewal at any time. Your order confirmation and confirmation email will include instructions for how to cancel automatic renewal and billing of your subscription. If you discontinue or do not select automatic renewal and billing of your subscription, you must manually renew your subscription to prevent interruption of service. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, do not check the box, provide your credit or debit card information, or complete this sale.

Notice that there is no way to not select auto-renewal at sign-up (at least not yet); you must select the box before your order is confirmed (no other option is given).

Note you have "complete control over your product subscription and may cancel your auto-renewal at any time". It should also be noted however, that cancelation isn't instantaneous and requires human interaction (there's a chance of human error, at least in my mind).

What is your policy for stopping auto-renewal?

When auto-renew is stopped on monthly subscriptions, they will not be renewed the following month. Annual auto-renew subscriptions that are stopped will not be renewed for another year. Subscribers will continue receiving service for which they have paid.

Stopping auto-renew will not refund any payment that has already been made. It simply makes it so you will not be charged or automatically renewed when your current subscription ends.

Coercive autorenewal is an unethical business practice.

mudbunny wrote:

Do you mean having it set to autorenew unless you state otherwise?? That's not unethical as long as it is clearly stated, which it appears to be in this case. In addition, having subscriptions be set to auto-renew unless the consumer does otherwise is a pretty standard business practice.

Some are reporting that if they do not select auto renew, they are not allowed to complete the purchase. That is if you want to buy one month without auto renew the sale will not be processed.

I have not tested this so I do not know if this occurs to everyone that signed up or just some.

PS,

There were problems with the early phases of the SRD, that many people also felt were unethical. In the end, WotC did the right thing and, IMO, came up with a workable solution.