BAIT AND SWITCH!
The free trial period got my attention.
When I went to the site to sign up for the trial, a ZenDesk chatbox opens offering a discount link.
But when you click the link, your card is charged instantly - no trial period.
And that's the switch:
You can have the trial period at full price, or you can follow the link for the discount but then you pay up front, with no warning.
Then I find per-app control is not available on their FamilyTime. Dealbreaker.
So I email customer support - I request a refund because a feature is not available on their app.
They respond saying no refunds will be given, and include a link to their refund policies which stipulates "If you purchased FamilyTime and realized that a certain feature is not available on your child's device after buying, we will hold 40% of your subscription."
So where's my 60% refund?
This is offering a trial period, but then provide a quick means to switch you to another rate with immediate payment.
And there are no refunds - and it's on you.
The company is in Japan - I'll bet there's no recourse through the US. Apple, BBB, usa.gov. And I can't get a refund through my bank (which FamilyTime also stipulates on their website - way to be prepared, guys) because it's not true fraud - and if I try, FT holds SIXTY percent.
I'm still calling my bank and filing a fraud claim. Let FT sort it out.
Check it out for yourself: This is the chat and link they used:
"DISCOUNT OFFER! Get 20% OFF on (MyFamily1), 30% OFF on (MyFamily2 and MyFamily3), 40% OFF on (MyFamily5). This DISCOUNT OFFER is valid for the next 12 hours. So what are you waiting for? Just reply back to this message and get a discount code. Happy parenting!
And the link
https://sites.fastspring.com/familytime/instant/myfamily-upgrade?coupon=CS-2B2D&sessionOption=new&member=new&utm_source=familytime&utm_medium=cs&utm_campaign=MF-AA20
REPORT FAMILYTIME TO THE FTC - THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Details#crnt
EMAIL YOUR COMPLAINTS TO APPLE:
https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=itss&PGF=PGF*****&category_id=SC0998&symptom_id=*****