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Thanks to the helter-skelter pace of modern living it can be all too easy to sign up for a free trial or a month’s worth of a particular service, and then before you know it, you’re getting billed for a ton of apps you’re not using and don’t really need. Checking up on your subscriptions could save you a serious chunk of change — here’s how to do it.
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Get cancellation fever
There’s no shame in having rolling subscriptions you’ve forgotten about, with just about every app and service on the planet offering a free trial in return for an email address and a credit card number. One way of avoiding getting stung is to stick to free trials that don’t ask for card details up front, because that way you can’t get charged when your free period ends.
That’s not always possible though, and you might be keen to get started with something that does require payment details — you might even be willing to pay up for a month or two to get a feel for the service.
Image: Screenshot
If you’re sure you’re going to want out, then one of the best ways to avoid a nasty surprise on your next credit card bill is to cancel your trial as soon as you’ve signed up for it. In most cases, you’ll be allowed to continue to use the service until the trial ends. Have a look around the app or the website while it’s still fresh in your mind to find the cancellation option.
Of course, it’s in an app’s best interest to keep stringing you along, so that cancel button might be tricky to find. For Apple subscriptions and services, open up iTunes on Windows or macOS, then open the Store tab and click Account to find everything you’ve paid for through Apple; as for Google services and Android apps, head to the Subscriptions and services page on the web.
Wait, what did I sign up for?
Here are just some of the subscriptions you might be paying for monthly or yearly:
- music streaming
- movie and TV streaming
- paywalled publications
- photo or cloud storage
- premium versions of apps
- desktop software subscriptions
- security software
- VPN software
- forum memberships
- online gaming networks
- website hosting
- premium versions of sites
- subscription clothing or other goods
These are just the digital app and website subscriptions, and don’t include gym memberships, insurance coverage, and so on.
Your next port of call should be your credit card or bank statements: Look for recurring charges and anything you’re not expecting. Many banks will break out recurring payments for you, or show you pending transactions you’ve got coming up, so check your options online or on your statement.
Image: Screenshot
If you can’t remember what name or email address you used to sign up for a service — understandable if you registered many months ago — you should be able to recover your account details by opening up the app or heading to the website and looking for an account recovery option. If you can’t remember anything about the details you used to sign up, try searching through your inbox for a welcome email.
Getting in touch with the app or website directly might be enough to recover your account details, if indeed you can find a responsive customer service department. As a last resort, you should be able to cancel the payments through your bank, though you may have to pay a fee and jump through a few hoops first.
Services that can help you quit services
There’s a pile of apps will also try and take the hard work out of spotting unwanted, recurring payments for you.
Clarity Money, for example is a comprehensive account management service, but it does include a feature for removing what it calls “wasteful accounts” — those recurring payments for services and apps that you’re no longer making use of. Regular payments are highlighted and you have the option to cancel inside the app.
Alright that’s enough tech talk. Put down the device, step away from the screen. It’s time to stop thinking and start driving. Book your Mustang test drive today.