I'm a contributor, not a buyer of stock.  I do occasionally take a look at a media clip of mine on the customer-facing front end just to see how it looks.

And on more than on occasion, I saw a clip or two in my shopping cart.  I never add anything to my cart (I don't even have a "customer" account, so I'm not even logged in).  And usually, these cart items are media elements I never even looked at.

I empty my cart, and days later, there are new items back in there.

Anyone else notice this?  Is this some SS plan to sneak some additional items into carts to make more sales?

You may not know right now, but you probably need those files. I would just buy them and call it a day.

I wonder if this shenanigan happens regularly or I'm the only lame ass around here.

I signed up as a client and a couple days later deleted the account. I haven't purchased anything but I entered my credit card info, as it is a requirement for registration.

It turns out, SS has been charging my card for months, without me recognizing. I only recently checked my transactions and contacted them immediately via chat support. The chat guy says that deleting (or as they put "disabling") an account doesn't mean the subscription is cancelled. It runs forever no matter you have no affiliation with them.
He claims to have cancelled my sub now but of course I won't trust his word.

I also informed my bank that this was a fraud and they said they'd try to get it refunded. What do you guys think of my chances getting it back? If the bank fails, does it make sense to hire a US based lawyer? I'm from the EU. The total amount is just about $180 and i know it sounds ridiculous for any self respecting lawyer. But it's not the money, it's about stopping this shenanigan. SS is the worst experience of my life both as a contributor and as a client.

My Take on the situation:

- When you sign up with a free trial, at the end of the trial your subscription will continue and you will be charged, until you end the subscription. No fraud at all here, as others told you, you should have figured this out on sign up, it is very typical of this kind of free trial offers to work this way, not a shutterstock thing.

- You accusing SS of fraud on the other hand, could be considered defamation, not nice!

- How much sense would it make, once a client cancels his account, to check if an active subscription is ongoing and END THE SUBSCRIPTION BY DEFAULT on account cancellation?

You know, something like

"Hey, we noticed that you have an active subscription. Since you WILL BE UNABLE TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES once your account is closed, please be aware that your subscription will be cancelled together with your account."

I mean guys, for SS to keep a subscription active despite an account is closed is a very convenient bug in the Big Software (BS) that makes no sense at all from the customer point of view, and a lot of sense for SS that will keep the money and give nothing in return. Until you figure out what is going on and either re-open the account (not sure this would be so easy to re-open an account and having the new account linked with the current ongoing subscription) or end the subscription (difficult to do as you do no have an account anymore), that is.

Welcome, new SS forum refugees!

So, I am joining the refugees and hopefully we can stay connected here (and have fun ofcourse ! 

Alexandre, Repelsteeltjece, great to see you here guys!

Hello everyone, guess we'll have to meet here. Studio2, are you there?