Have you reviewed your legal research subscriptions lately? If not, you may want to take a thorough look to make sure you are only paying for the services that are on your contract. Recently, I talked about desperate sales tactics such as embedding tricky terms in the fine print or adding hyperlinks with additional conditions. However, these are not the only tactics that legal research providers use to squeeze every last penny from their customers.
Tactics That Will Cost You Money
- The “not-so-canceled” bundle: Many firms will choose to bundle a suite of subscriptions into a contract to “save money.” When the firm wants to cancel the bundled contract, some providers may cancel the actual contract but simply revert the bundled subscriptions into individual ones and continue billing the customer.
- The “not-so canceled” subscriptions: Were all of the subscriptions really canceled? Did you continue paying for these subs even though you thought they were canceled?
- Chasing refunds: It can be incredibly challenging to get a refund if the provider over-bills you or charges you for the wrong services, especially when they already have your money. Possession is 9/10 of the law, right? They may delay repayment, demand all sorts of returns, or simply refuse to take your calls. They’re counting on you to be too busy to monitor your account and unfortunately, in many cases, it pays off.
Does this mean you’re entitled to a full credit going back to the date that you canceled the subs? Or is the vendor going to tell you that you didn’t notify them within the RETURN window and you are not entitled to a refund?
Why Are Legal Research Providers So Desperate?
These tactics are certainly a signal that the bottom line is getting thin. Some of the reasons that firms have gotten so desperate include:
- Lack of new products and services: There are only so many ways to research cases and statutes, which is the majority of legal research. Yes, Artificial Intelligence is always a moving target, but attorneys still need to do most of their own research. Without new ground breaking products, there are fewer reasons to convince law firms to spend more.
- Shift from print to digital resources: While many firms still use traditional print services, some are shifting to hybrid print/digital resources. With the diminishing revenue from print updates and bound volumes that have been relied on for decades, providers are scrambling to replace that money. Firms that are still heavy in print will continue to pay more and be susceptible to less reputable tactics.
- Law firms are recognizing their power: Many law firms have realized that they do have power in the process. Whether hiring a consultant to help them negotiate or becoming more diligent when reviewing contract terms, many law firms are cutting unnecessary products and services when renewing their contracts.
All of these reasons lead back to one overarching motivation: reduction in profits.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
It is very frustrating to feel like you cannot trust your provider. However, this particular industry requires that the buyer beware. Here are a few steps you can take to try to combat these pesky budget busters.
- Get everything in writing whenever you make a change.
- Review new contracts completely, especially, when you’re instructed to click a link to sign.
- Check your invoices, at least for the next few months after a cancellation.
- Have a professional consultant look over your current contract to help you find potential problems.
- Pursue your refunds, no matter the size.
- Demand transparency. Once your sales rep identifies you as a person who is vigilant, they may not target you to extract income from your firm.
Legal Counsel Consulting can help you analyze your current contracts and monthly subscriptions. I will gladly help ensure you are not falling prey to desperate tactics like ancillary fees, phantom subscriptions, and overdue refunds. Contact me today to set up a brief appointment to learn more about how I can assist.