FAQ
Common questions about cancelling
Answers that only restate official and company help pages, with sources. Last checked 11 Nov 2026.
Can I get a refund after cancelling a subscription?
It depends on timing and the company's terms. If you cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period for an online contract, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 say the trader must refund payments, for a service by the end of 14 days after being told (reg. 34). After that, refunds depend on each company: Amazon says Prime members who have not used benefits are eligible for a full refund; Strava says you may be eligible for a full refund within 14 days of purchase; OpenAI says cancelling ChatGPT does not automatically refund previous charges; Google Play says you may be eligible in some instances.
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I was charged after I cancelled. What can I do?
First check the cause. Canva lists common reasons: you have more than one account and cancelled only one, you subscribed through Google Play or the App Store, or the cancellation did not go through. Netflix says if there is no cancel option in your account, you are billed by a payment partner. If you asked your card issuer to cancel a recurring card payment, the FCA says any further payments taken are unauthorised and the issuer must refund them and related charges immediately. If your bank will not put it right, Citizens Advice says to use its complaints procedure and then the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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How do I cancel a free trial before I'm charged?
Cancel it the same way as the paid plan, before the trial ends. Amazon says ending Prime this way also cancels a free trial so it does not convert to a full membership. Deliveroo says a free Plus trial automatically becomes a paid plan unless you cancel before it ends. Spotify says if you cancel during a zero-priced free trial, the account switches to free immediately. The new UK rule requiring reminders before trials end is not yet in force (draft regulations name 1 Jan 2027; GOV.UK said spring 2027).
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I subscribed in an app. Do I cancel in the App Store or Google Play?
Usually yes: cancel where you were billed. On iPhone or iPad, Apple says go to Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose the subscription and tap Cancel Subscription. On Google Play, Google says go to subscriptions on Google Play, click Manage, then Cancel subscription. OpenAI, for example, says ChatGPT subscriptions bought through the Apple App Store or Google Play must be cancelled there.
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Does deleting the app cancel my subscription?
No. Netflix says signing out or deleting the app does not cancel your account. Google Play says uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription. Duolingo says deleting the app or your account does not cancel the subscription.
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Will I lose access as soon as I cancel?
Usually not. Netflix, Disney+ and Google Play say you keep access until the end of the period you have paid for. Disney+ and NOW say that if you are on a minimum-term plan, billing continues until the end of that term.
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Can I just stop the payment through my bank?
You can ask your card issuer to cancel a recurring card payment, and the FCA says it must stop the payments even if you have not contacted the business. Ask by the end of the business day before the next payment. But the FCA says this does not necessarily end your contract, so cancel with the company too.
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When do the new UK subscription rules start?
Not yet. As of 11 November 2026, the draft regulations on legislation.gov.uk say 1 January 2027 but are still a draft that has not been made, and GOV.UK's 2 April 2026 press release said spring 2027.
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