Save the cancellation confirmation and match each disputed charge to the subscription’s billing period. Ask the company to confirm the cancellation date and review the charge. If billing continues or the company will not resolve an unauthorized charge, contact your card issuer or bank promptly and follow its dispute instructions.
Identify who billed you and what period the charge covers
Check the statement description, receipt, account email, and subscription settings. The business that collects the payment may be an app store, marketplace, or other platform rather than the service’s brand name. Use verified account information to find the right billing contact.
| Record | Detail to capture |
|---|---|
| Cancellation request | Date, method, account, and confirmation number |
| Cancellation confirmation | Effective date and any remaining access period |
| Disputed payment | Posting date, amount, and merchant description |
| Subscription terms | Renewal date, billing period, and cancellation instructions |
Deleting an app or stopping use may not cancel the subscription. Check the actual account status and the cancellation steps supplied by the seller. Keep a screenshot of the final confirmation.
Preserve the cancellation attempt, even if it failed
The FTC recommends following the company’s cancellation instructions and keeping a record of the request. If you encounter an error or cannot complete the process, record the date, the step that failed, and any support reference. Avoid putting payment details into a public complaint or screenshot.
Official guidance: FTC: Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions.
- Save the original offer and the terms shown when you signed up, if available.
- Keep confirmation emails and support messages.
- List each disputed payment separately, with a total.
- Record any promised refund and check whether it posted.
- Save the evidence before closing an account that may remove access to receipts.
For a free trial, compare the trial end date with your cancellation date. A charge you expected to avoid and a charge made without your authorization may require different explanations.
Request both a billing review and cancellation confirmation
A charge after a confirmed end date
Your email dated September 3 confirms that my subscription ended that day. My statement shows a $24 subscription charge on September 10. Please explain the service period covered by that payment and refund it if it was billed after the effective cancellation date in error. Please also confirm whether any further subscription payments are scheduled.
State the result you want without changing the facts to fit a fraud category. If you approved the subscription but canceled later, say that. If you never agreed to the subscription, explain that instead. Keep the company’s answer with the billing record.
Contact the payment provider without missing its deadlines
If the company keeps billing after cancellation or will not refund a charge you did not authorize, the FTC recommends disputing it with the credit or debit card company. Follow the provider’s instructions, including any written follow-up and the address for billing disputes. Credit and debit protections are not identical.
Official guidance: FTC: Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions.
Ask separately about future recurring payments and the payments already taken. A payment block does not necessarily end the service contract or settle a valid balance. Do not rely on replacing a card as proof that you canceled the agreement.
For debit-card activity you did not make or allow, use the unauthorized debit charge guide. Report suspected misuse promptly rather than waiting for the merchant to answer.
Report unresolved cancellation practices and check the outcome
The FTC identifies ReportFraud.ftc.gov and state attorneys general as reporting routes for subscription problems. A fraud report helps enforcement; it is not a promise of an individual refund. You can also locate your state consumer office.
Official guidance: FTC: Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions.
After the company confirms a correction, review the next statement. Record the refund date, cancellation status, and any remaining balance. If another charge appears, add it to the existing timeline rather than starting with an inconsistent account of what happened.
Common questions
Does deleting the app cancel the subscription?
Do not assume so. Check the subscription’s cancellation instructions and get confirmation from the seller or platform that manages billing.
Will my bank cancel the service for me?
A bank may address payments, but you still need to deal with the underlying subscription or contract. Ask the seller for cancellation confirmation.
Is every payment after cancellation an error?
No. Check the effective cancellation date and the period the charge covers. Ask for an explanation when those do not match your records.
Keep going
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Sources and page information
Official source links checked September 24, 2026. Requirements can change; use the relevant agency’s current instructions.
- FTC: Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions
- USA.gov: state consumer protection offices
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples and worksheets are illustrative. This is general information, not legal advice. We do not submit complaints, determine eligibility, or guarantee a result.