You gotta give TinyLabs points for trying.
The company ran a scammy subscription app that was banned by Apple for a sneaky user interface that conned people into purchasing expensive subscriptions to its simple QR code scanner app. Now, just a few days later it’s back on the App Store.
Has the leopard changed its spots?
Apparently not, because it is still charging customers immediately for access to a “free” trial.
In some sense, whether it’s a scam or not depends on what you believe the phrase “free trial” means. If you believe that a “free trial” means you’re not paying while you’re in the trial period, this is a clear scam. But Apple’s policies actually don’t allow apps to offer free trial that initiate immediate payment.
According to a tipster, Julie Plumb, an actual free trial user experience should look like this:
Experts agree.
“Free trials say so on the confirmation screen,” mobile developer and Contrast CEO David Barnard said on Twitter. “This really is another brazen scam.”
At least the app does clearly state now that the trial is $5.99/month.
But Apple guidelines, which it reinforced to app publishers of subscription apps just in the past few days, state that apps must not mislead users.
“Apps that attempt to trick users into purchasing a subscription under false pretenses or engage in bait-and-switch practices will be removed from the App Store and you may be removed from the Apple Developer Program,” the App Store guidelines say.
I have contacted Apple PR for comment, and will update this story with any new developments.
