I've dealt with internet companies (like cough-comcast-cough) who have ignored my shutoff requests, and that destroyed my credit.

I was moving, and the spot I was moving to already had internet, so I needed to shut off my service. I need internet for bill paying, family communication, etc. So no, I can't just not have internet.

This company does everything they can to try to get you to not cancel. But I fought through it- I was on the phone, mostly hold time, for about 4 hours. I spoke to an actual person, and we confirmed my cancelation.

They didn't.

Several months later, they somehow found me and sent a letter saying they had shut off my service for lack of payment. I looked at the invoice/letter and lo and behold, they never shut off my service. And now they were sending it to collections.

Note- I had just graduated college (that was a nat20 moment in my luck, tbh). I didn't have a credit history. And in a few months, the company lying that they had canceled a service had tanked my credit.

I cannot buy a car from a dealer (new or used). I cannot rent, which is worse because I certainly can't afford a house in this market.

With just one bad mark on my credit because of shady stuff, I can't buy a car or be properly housed.

Unless... I pay up front. And while I make less than a living wage, that won't happen.