Shutterstock

Shuttlestock have a really dodgey subscription service that I fell foul to last year after browsing for images for a banner for a project. I accidently signed up to a whole year which cost me £264 in total and didnt use the service one. Now you could say this is my fault and yes it is for not reading the T&Cs etc however, I did try to cancel and was told that I would have to pay an exit fee which was more that the subscription, so no point in paying that so was left with a expensive cost each month and a very annoyed customer. Avoid this service like the plague unless you will be using their services each month.

These thieves have placed me into a yearly subscription which I something I never selected and are charging a cancelation fee.

Their support team was also not very helpful in resolving this matter.

I made a one time purchase, of two pictures for $29. They signed me up for an auto-renewing monthly subscription because, "that is their policy". When I filed a complaint with Paypal, they refused to refund the second charge until after I reported the problem solved to Paypal. The problem is not solved until after they refund my money, then I will drop the complaint through Paypal. These are thieves.

First thing's first. THERE IS NO FREE TRIAL. The free trial doesn't allow you to try the service, nor is it free. I started the free trial on Feb 11. I tried to download some of the stock photos and I never received my downloads. Then, they literally charged me $25.11, turned around and tried to charge me a $40 cancellation fee. I also noticed in the reviews, everyone's numbers were different. That's a little suspect, but whatever. If they got you, call them immediately to cancel. Maybe you will get lucky and have a nice phone operator like me. It's not worth the stress though.

I uploaded a bunch of photos as a contributor, mistakenly believing it would kinda cool to sell my images that way. Over time, my photos have been purchased 39 times through Shutterstock but I did not receive a single penny. You have to get to $25 to even get paid at all, and for most images, they pay you 25 cents per download. What a joke! They are completely scamming artists and photographers and using our hard work for free. I just deleted all my photos.
If you are considering putting your work on Shutterstock, do yourself a huge favor and DON'T.

I used Shutter stock only once for one picture and got tricked into paying $30 a month and to cancel, I have to pay an extra 30. Every month I see my bank go negative for a service I don't use. The company steals and somehow is getting away with it.

So, I think their website is doing some unnecessary tracking or other security because both my linux computers wont allow the downloads, usually that means there is some security compromise on the site. Customer care are useless and now not responding to provide any workable solution.
Be wary of this site

Shutterstock forces you into an entire year of paying 36 Euros a month no matter how many pictures you need. When you try to cancel your plan you have to wait for a mail with a link and if you do not pay another months fee within three days your plan will continue.
This means for one simple graphic you will have to pay a minimum of 2 times 36 Euros. Shutterstock is disgustingly abusing their position if they are the only license holder to employ an unethical, inhonest payment strategy.
Do not support this business, please.

I got charged $36 for fist month, and i got charged again for cancellation fee. I just wanted to try this service for the first month to see if i like this service. Turns out i got ripped off.
I contacted customer service and this is what i get:
" Thank you for holding. I really appreciate your patience. I was checking your account and I could find that you have 2 recent payments. Correct, but since this was an annual plan and you would not be completing the 12 months commitment we would need to complete a price adjustment"

These people are thieves... Shutterstock billed my credit card when my monthly plan was cancelled. Forget their BS chatbot. It is just a way to make you feel as though you have to be satisfied with being robbed. Call their phone number. And DEMAND a refund! They will "Open a case" in your name. Within a few hours they emailed me back stating I would receive a refund in 3-5 business days. Don't be a victim! Call the 866 customer service number NOW!