The cancellation maze

How to get out of a subscription they won’t let you cancel

Lesson 6 of 6 · ~6 minutes

Try canceling a subscription

Below is the cancellation process of Calmetry, a made-up app. Your job is to actually cancel the subscription without accepting a single “special offer.”

How to cancel for real

  • iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Android: Google Play → profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
  • Paid on a website? Then the subscription isn’t in the app store, and deleting the app won’t cancel it. Look for “Manage subscription” in the payment email or in your account on the website.
  • If you can only cancel through support, send an email and save the reply and screenshots. Ask for written confirmation that it’s canceled.
  • If they don’t answer or keep charging you, call your bank: block the card and ask the bank to dispute the charges (this is called a “chargeback”). Screenshots of the terms and your emails will help.

Quiz

You paid for a subscription on a website, then deleted the app from your phone. What happens to the subscription?

  • It’s canceled
  • It keeps going and keeps charging you
  • It’s paused

Deleting the app doesn’t cancel anything — not a subscription you bought on a website, and not one in the app store.

While you’re canceling, they offer you “50% off forever.” What happens if you accept?

  • The subscription is canceled with a discount
  • The subscription continues, just cheaper
  • They refund half your money

Accepting a “discount for staying” means you’re still subscribed.

Support isn’t answering, and the charges keep coming. What should you do?

  • Wait until they answer
  • Contact your bank: block the card and dispute the charges
  • Delete your account in the app

Your bank can dispute the charges and get your money back. Saved screenshots and emails will help.

All apps, authors, publications and reviews in this course are made up. Any resemblance to real products is a coincidence. Only the tricks are real.