Unfair Farewells

 We've all done it. We saw an ad that promised a free spate of a membership with cancellation if not wanting to continue. What we found out later, is cancellation is really a complication. If we tried the membership and found it entertaining at the beginning, but that it became something we decided not to continue for one reason or another, cancelled. Or rather, tried to cancel. Previously, one could depend on a reliable, experienced company to comply with a request to cancel; but no more. I can't recall how many times in the last year or so, I have discovered that cancelling is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Sometimes, after much plowing through endless redirects the key words to make the cancellation happen simply do not appear to exist. You resort to going on line to find out from others perhaps in a forum, just how they managed to cancel. The other day, for example, I checked my bank statement and discovered that a company I had joined, charged me, not a monthly fee as usual, but an annual one in which I had to pay a large amount all at once rather than the regular monthly fee. My bank listed the amount as "pending" thus I could take no action to stop payment because they could not effect it until the charge actually  happened. I had to wait until the charge went through and then start action. So how come it is listed as "pending"? And further, how do I dispute a "pending" that is a non-existent amount? The next step logically, would be to contact the company and cancel the item.  I went to "account" and scrolled down to "manage". To "manage", I could renew my subscription or extend it (with lovely bonuses) or change my account info,  but nowhere did I find "cancel". After another search, I was told that I needed to cancel, not on the company's name but from the provider source. Huh? Each time I used the product, I went directly to the company, not the provider. Finally, I found a cancellation spot and discovered that not me, but they, made suggestions listed for me to choose from.  None of the long list of items included my need. Usually at the bottom of the page, one can find "Help" and perhaps a phone number or an email address for a "zen" desk which is apparently where you just might find some real help. The zen desk was an email address only and I entered my subject - cancel the subscription. Whoopee, I reeceived a "we have successfully cancelled your subscription".  But reading on, they said I would continue as a member until next year when your "pending" fee on your bank account, will end the subscription. Next year? Now, please. I wrote to the zen desk  "cancel immediately or I will be reporting you to my bank and credit card company". I am still waiting for a response.