F
Find them
How to find every subscription you're paying for
The real issue
The average consumer has more active subscriptions than they think — because companies deliberately design sign-up to be frictionless and cancellation to be painful. Free trials that auto-convert, pre-ticked annual renewals, and "pause" options that still charge are standard patterns — not accidents. The audit below systematically surfaces every charge.
| Where to look | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Bank statement — last 3 months | Any recurring charge, even small ones (AU$0.99–$19.99 range is common for forgotten subscriptions). Search for charges ending in .99 or .00 on the same date each month. |
| Credit card statements | Separate from bank account — many subscriptions are on cards people check less frequently. |
| Apple ID (iPhone/iPad) | Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions. Shows all App Store subscriptions and their next billing date. |
| Google Play (Android) | Google Play app → Profile icon → Payments and subscriptions → Subscriptions. |
| PayPal | PayPal account → Settings → Payments → Manage automatic payments. Recurring charges you may have forgotten. |
| Email inbox — search "receipt", "invoice", "subscription", "renewal" | Companies send renewal notices to the email address used at sign-up — often an old address. |
| Amazon | Account → Memberships and subscriptions. Also check "Subscribe & Save" for product subscriptions. |
C
Cancel
Cancellation — when the platform makes it hard
Many subscription platforms design cancellation to be difficult — buried menus, retention offers, long phone holds, or "pause" options that default to continuing. If normal cancellation fails, use the written notice approach below.
Written cancellation notice — use this template
Subject: Cancellation of Subscription — [Account/email address]
To [Company name],
I am writing to cancel my subscription to [service name] with immediate effect / effective from [date].
Account email: [your email]
Account ID / reference: [if known]
Date of notice: [today's date]
Please confirm cancellation in writing and confirm that no further charges will be made after this date. If a final billing cycle applies, please state the exact date of the last charge.
[Your name]
| Platform makes it hard by… | Your response |
|---|---|
| Requiring a phone call to cancel | Call if you can. If they keep you on hold, send written email notice as backup — the email timestamp protects you. |
| Offering "pause" instead of cancel | State clearly in writing: "I want to cancel, not pause. Please confirm cancellation." |
| Requiring cancellation through a specific portal that doesn't work | Document the failed attempts (screenshot). Send written notice by email. Your written notice is valid even if their portal fails. |
| Claiming you must give 30 days notice | Check whether this was in the original terms you agreed to. If it was, honour it — but send notice now to start the clock. |
| Charging a cancellation fee | Check original terms. In some jurisdictions, cancellation fees for subscription services are enforceable only if they were clearly disclosed at sign-up. |
R
Recover
Recovering unauthorised or post-cancellation charges
A continuous payment authority (CPA) can be cancelled by your bank. Under AU, UK, and US banking rules, you can instruct your bank to stop a CPA (recurring card charge) at any time. The company's "no cancellation" policy does not override this. Call your bank, state the company name and charge amount, and request the CPA be cancelled.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Charges continued after you cancelled in writing | Contact your bank — you have written proof of cancellation date. Request a chargeback for all charges after that date. Your written notice is evidence. |
| You never authorised the subscription | Contact your bank immediately — this is potential fraud. Request chargeback and report to your national consumer authority (ACCC/FTC/Trading Standards). |
| Free trial converted without clear notice | AU and UK: if auto-conversion terms were not clearly disclosed, this may be an ACL or Consumer Rights Act breach. Report to your consumer authority and request chargeback. |
| Annual renewal charged after monthly cancellation | Send written dispute to company within 30 days of charge. If no refund, request chargeback — your bank will review the cancellation record. |
Chargeback request to your bank
"I need to dispute a charge from [company name] on [date] for [amount]. I [cancelled this subscription on [date — I have written confirmation] / never authorised this subscription]. I am requesting a chargeback for this charge. Reference: [transaction reference from your statement]."
P
Prevention
Preventing subscription traps — four rules
| Rule | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Use a separate card for subscriptions and free trials | One card dedicated to subscriptions makes audit simple. Cancelling that card cancels all CPAs simultaneously if needed. |
| Set a calendar reminder on the day you start any free trial | Three days before the trial ends — not on the last day. Companies rely on you forgetting until after conversion. |
| Screenshot or save the cancellation confirmation | Companies sometimes claim cancellations were not received. Proof of cancellation is your protection. |
| Run a subscription audit every 3 months | Use the bank statement method in Section 1. Small recurring charges are easy to miss and compound over a year. |
Report subscription traps: AU — ACCC via accc.gov.au (especially for free trial auto-conversions and hidden charges). UK — Trading Standards via Citizens Advice. US — FTC via reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC has taken enforcement action against companies with deliberately obstructive cancellation processes — your report contributes to that record.