While Roku remains our go-to streaming player, gifting still leaves something to be desired. And, as the company eclipses 10 million units and pressures streaming partners, Roku continues to solicit credit card information for the small number of apps that require it and to take a cut of every M-Go video rental or purchase. Of course, this isn’t unusual given Apple and Amazon streaming devices that also have credit cards on file. But, for whatever reason, it seems out of place on Roku and not everyone is comfortable or capable of complying. Whereas the company once suggested folks that object create fake PayPal accounts, they now direct customers to a non-publicized link. Instead of registering new Roku boxes via the standard workflow, by going through the link below, customers are provided a convenient “Skip” button to bypass the payment form.
https://my.roku.com/signup/nocc
View Comments
"Of course, this isn’t unusual given Apple and Amazon streaming devices that also have credit cards on file."
A minor quibble: one can function just fine within the Apple ecosystem without ever giving them your credit card. My household has always refused to add to Apple's credit card database since we, (really, me), don't trust Cupertino, and we've always gotten by without hitches by buying cash cards when necessary. And while our household don't have an Apple TV, the same would apply there.
------
Also, does this good news mean I can somehow remove my existing credit card info from my Roku account? I have no use for the capability, and thus have no desire for it to sit in their database.
They've changed that page since I had to ferret it out a month ago. You needed to call customer service and complain, then they would direct you there. The "Skip this Step" was a faint link under the asterisk note that was difficult to see, not a button. After what I considered an excessive search effort I was able to find a post that published the link directly. Obviously they got many more complaints and redid the page.
Yes, Chucky, you can remove your C/C info...I just did. I went to the Roku page, and went into my account, and over to the right there was a link to remove the credit info.