Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
These days, it seems there’s a subscription for everything—from music and video streaming to photo editing, and even monthly boxes of exotic snacks. Signing up is a breeze, but canceling? That’s where the trouble begins.
Companies know the harder it is to stop paying for their services, the more money they’ll make from people who either don’t realize they’re subscribed or are too busy to opt out.
The folks you’re about to hear from faced unreal difficulties with hidden fees and impossible cancellation methods. We’ve rounded up some of their most outrageous experiences below. Check them out and share your own subscription battles in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
People Are Sick And Tired Of All Their Subscriptions. Well Played, The Wall Street Journal, Well Played
RELATED:
#2
Walmart Is Charging Me 10 Days Before The Free Trial Ends. This Is Why I Don't Use My Bank Card For Free Trials. I Also Keep It Locked, Just In Case. Google Is Bad About Doing This Too
TribbleThinking 4 months ago
Wish I could add multiple upvotes for this excellent precaution. :)
The average American spends almost a thousand dollars each year on subscriptions. With so many to keep track of, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the costs, but stopping them is a whole other challenge. Some companies create entire obstacle courses before you can finally click cancel. The New York Times, for example, is notorious for making you talk to a customer representative on the phone or endure a tedious online chat, as you can’t end your subscription directly through their website.
#3
After Going Through Five Pages To Cancel Your $4 New York Times Subscription You Get This
ZGutr 4 months ago
Happens more often than you think. They hope you you don't have time to call now and forget about it for a while. When you do call, that you don't wanna wait in the queue for half an hour just to save $4, and then when finally talk to them, they try to convince you to continue the subscription. If that fails you'll get an offer with a discount and so you'll start over the whole process again after six months.
#4
"Free" Trial
In some cases, businesses make their cancellation processes so confusing they end up facing legal action. Last year, Amazon was sued by the US government over how hard it is to cancel Prime and claims of ‘nonconsensual enrollment.’
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Amazon of repeatedly pushing customers to sign up for Prime during their shopping journey, often using big, eye-catching buttons for enrollment and tiny, easy-to-miss links to decline. The suit claims these Prime offers were often not clearly labeled, leading consumers to think they were choosing free shipping or a trial, not realizing they were agreeing to a paid subscription.
#5
Netflix Hides The "Happy Middle-Ground" Option To Entice People Into The Most Expensive Subscription
#6
My Free Subscription To Paramount+ Is Up Tomorrow And So I Was Going To Cancel Today. No Matter How Many Times I Try, Or Reset My Browser, It Won’t Let Me. This Has To Be Illegal, Right?
Wang Zhuang 4 months ago
I got about 5 months for free from Paramount +. They kept giving me a free month every time I tried to cancel. Then I forgot on the sixth month, and got charged $14.99. But I had no problem canceling after that
#7
I Don’t Print Much So I Canceled My Subscription… Now I Print Even Less
Wang Zhuang 4 months ago
This is just wrong. If you paid for the printer and you paid for the ink, you shouldn't have to pay for a subscription to use the ink!
With such deceptive marketing techniques, it’s no wonder people get so frustrated. Fortunately, the FTC is stepping in to help. In 2023, they proposed a ‘click to cancel rule,’ which would force businesses to make unsubscribing as easy as signing up.
“I’m sure this is an experience that all of you can relate to, where you tried to cancel a subscription and the company has made you jump through an endless number of hoops,” commented FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Companies should not be able to manipulate consumers into paying for subscriptions that they don’t want.”
#8
HelloFresh Now Forces You To Talk To A Sales Rep If You Want To Cancel Your Subscription
#9
Trying To Cancel A Subscription, And Suddenly This Happens
#10
Ultimate Guitar Costs More For A Year If You Use The 7-Day Free Trial
Regina Holt 4 months ago
We are just supposed to see the word "free" and assume we are getting a good deal.
The ‘click to cancel rule’ is still in the works, but if it goes through, it will put an end to in-person visits, handwritten letters, and hours spent on hold on the phone. Companies would also have to clearly inform consumers they’re signing up for a paid service, get users’ explicit consent, and remind them before services automatically renew.
#11
This Should Be Illegal. If You Allow People To Sign Up For A Plan On Your Mobile Device Or App, You Should Be Forced To Allow People To Cancel The Same Way
Carl Roberts 4 months ago
Illegal in California. They have to allow you to cancel via the same way you signed up.
#12
For Weeks I Couldn’t Figure Out How To Unsubscribe
#13
I Keep Canceling, And For Some Reason, The Membership Keeps Continuing. This Is Already The Third Time I’m Canceling My Membership
kissmychakram 4 months ago
Yes. In this situation change your password, disconnect all devices and try again.
Load More Replies...
Chris Christo 4 months ago
VikingAbroad is right. I've canceled my subscription several times for the last 10 years and never had any issues with it. The last time was 4 months ago. Someone has your credentials and they are watching Netflix for free on your account.
Regina Holt 4 months ago
I actually did that. They say they will continue with all of your automatic monthly charges, but I told them not to continue with a certain one that I could not get them to stop.
Load More Replies...
Dorothea Stovall 4 months ago
Netflix is very sneaky. Cancel them at your bank or credit union. Beware though that they have a few different names that they go under to get around you doing that, but if you tell your bank they can refuse to pay all of the iterations.
Making it easier to end subscriptions could actually be beneficial for businesses in the long run. Some providers who are already transparent about their policies say honesty has helped them retain more customers.
“We had fewer cancellation requests, more saves, and less customer service time,” says Alex Brown, CEO of sustainable cleaning supplies subscription firm Truly Free. “That’s given us the latitude to take a little bit of the pressure off of them, and I think it’s caused more of them to come back in the future too.”
#14
Netflix Won't Let Me Watch The Last Few Weeks Of My Subscription Without Resubscribing. There's No Option To Continue Watching Without Selecting A New Plan
TribbleThinking 4 months ago
That's outrageous. Surely that must contravene some Trades Description Act (UK here, I don't know what the US equivalent is)? They've got your money, so pony up with the service!
#15
My $400 Baby Monitor Has Locked Previously Free Features Behind A Monthly Subscription
The app used to send push notifications when the baby woke up. Now I have to pay $10 per month for that privilege.
#16
The Website For My Physics College Textbook Has A Subscription For The Solution Of Questions
While some companies have made the shift to be more honest and straightforward, others still use sneaky tactics to keep customers locked in. Personal finance expert Clark Howard offers some tips on handling your subscriptions.
“It requires a mental reset,” Howard says. He suggests reviewing your checking and credit card statements every three months to spot recurring charges you might have forgotten about. If there’s something you no longer use, cancel it.
#17
Trying To Cancel A Subscription Via Text Message
#18
Imagine Paying For A Subscription And There Are 5 Unskippable Ads In A Non-Live Show On Hulu
#19
My New Truck Requires A $15/Month Data Plan To Use Features My Previous Model Did For Free (Maps, Basic Voice Commands, Text-To-Voice Messages)
More importantly, Howard urges consumers to research new services and their cancellation policies before enrolling. Look beyond the service’s website for its cancellation policy and see if there are any complaints about it. It might take some time, but it will save a lot of hassle in the future. “You have to look at how you get divorced before you get married,” he says.
#20
The Color Scheme Of This Email Spotify Sent Me
Regina Holt 4 months ago
I think they thought were punking certain color-blind folks to think that they just sent a page with nothing on it.
#21
Get Your 7-Day Free Trial For The Amazing Price Of 200 Dollars
#22
I'm Not Paying A Damn Subscription To Watch DVDs On My PC
Carl Roberts 4 months ago
It's not a subscription. It's a one time fee. Still b.s. that they now charge for something that used to be free.
The FTC also recommends watching for prechecked boxes when making a purchase online, as they may sign you up for products or services you don’t want unless you uncheck them. If you cancel a subscription but are still being charged, dispute it with your credit card company and file a complaint on the FTC’s website.
#23
Can’t Reset My Yahoo Password Because I Have A New Number. Went Online And Read That It’s A Premium Feature Now
I called a customer representative and was told I had to pay a monthly subscription fee for that service (he told me the price was $12.95).
#24
The Button To End Subscription Doesn’t Work
#25
I Just Wanted To Cancel My Subscription, But Now I Have To Talk To Someone
Regina Holt 4 months ago
I shouldn't have to talk to an actual person for something like this, the chat feature is how I like to communicate with a human.
So, the next time you consider starting a new subscription, remember to do your homework and stay vigilant about hidden charges. Hopefully, in the future, better consumer protection policies like the ‘click to cancel rule’ will make managing subscriptions easier and more transparent for everyone.
#26
Learn How Subscriptions Are Getting Out Of Hand (Only For Our Subscribers)
#27
No "None" Option On An Unsolicited Email Subscription
#28
We Refuse Your Unsubscribe
#29
Adobe Must Be Joking... £109.82 To Cancel My Plan. Honestly Ridiculous
iseefractals 4 months ago
Yeah....someone didn't read the T&C. Adobe has subscription option that is paid monthly....or they have an annual subscription at a discounted price. You only get that discounted price on the understanding that you will continue to use the service for a full year. That's the terms you agreed to. If you break that agreement, you're going to be charged the difference.
#30
They're Trying To Make Us Pay Subscriptions On Everything. Greedy Companies
#31
Brand New Toyota Requires A Subscription
Regina Holt 4 months ago
I dread the day I have to buy a new car. Right now I'm driving a manual car that is so basic that I have roll down windows. I don't even think I can get another car like the one I have now.
#32
The App I Paid Money For Discontinued Because Their New App Is Subscription-Based
Regina Holt 4 months ago
They charged you for the app, with the idea of planned obsolescence coming up
#33
I Canceled My Netflix Subscription Last July Because I Didn't Want To Use It Anymore, And Ever Since, They Have Barraged Me With These Emails, Trying To Get Me To Come Back
#34
CAPTCHA To Uninstall And The Big Cancel Button Instead Of Continuing
Bernd Herbert 4 months ago
that's what we Privacy Professionals call "Dark Patterns". In the EU this became illegal in 2022 with the Digital Services Act
#35
A Monthly Subscription And An App Are Required For Filtered Water
JK 4 months ago
I think the problem here isn't that it's charged for, it's that it's a subscription. You're not purchasing bulk credits to use, or paying as you go, you're paying a monthly fee no matter how much/little you use it. And we all know how hard it is to cancel subscriptions, or take a break from them when not required
#36
HP Printers Won’t Let You Print Without A Subscription Even After You Buy The Printer
#37
Water Subscription At My Local Gym
Regina Holt 4 months ago
Well, I always carry my own water with me. And I never go to the gym, So I'm good.
#38
Can't Cancel My Subscription. Whenever I Try, It Always Leads Me To This Screen
#39
UltimateGuitar Shows A Fake Tutorial Video With The Title Of The Song You're Trying To Learn. Clicking It Just Brings You To The Sign-Up Page For Their Premium Subscription
TribbleThinking 4 months ago
Tactics like that just make me "Nope" out even if I was intending to sign up for a paid service.
#40
This App Doesn’t Tell You The Full Price Of A Subscription Until You Buy It And Start Paying It
Regina Holt 4 months ago
This can't be legal? Don't businesses have to tell you the price of thing BEFORE you buy something?
#41
So I Paid $250 For A Fitbit Watch And Half Of Its Features Are Behind A Subscription Paywall
#42
What The Hell, Disney?
#43
Tried Canceling My Newspaper Subscription Online
Regina Holt 4 months ago
There are times that I want to talk to a human, and times that I don't. I don't need to talk to a human for this s**t.
#44
Imagine Paying $499 Just To Not Get A Single Match
#45
What’s The Point Of Paying For A Subscription? What’s The Point Of Paying For The Premium Family Plan If I Have To Pay More To Use It? I Hate Everything About This
#46
Is This Even Legal? Accept Cookies Or Pay 2.5€/Month
#47
Snapchat+ Says That You Save More With Their More Expensive Subscription Because You Get A Discount For The First 3 Months
JK 4 months ago
This is because the "monthly plan" is paid once a month, the "annual plan" is taken out as 1 payment for the full 12 months. Most companies do this, it encourages more people to splash out upfront and save in the long run, the company gets your money quicker and you're also more likely to forget to cancel before the next 12-month payment is due.
#48
PlayStation Now Is A Joke. Pay For A Subscription And Then You Have To Wait In A Queue To Play
ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago
This is utterly outdated and not at all typical. If you pay for the premium, PlayStation subscription you have access to new streaming content immediately. If for some reason, you’re on a lower tier or it has just come out, it takes some time for their servers to catch up with the streams. It also has a lot to do with the game’s servers, NOT PlayStation. To be honest, what we’re seeing here is so incredibly rare that it’s a non-issue. What the real problem is with PlayStation now is that if you want to use online play/multiplayer with saves, you have to subscribe to the premium tier.
#49
Adobe Makes It So You Can't Cancel Your Subscription. Instead, You’re Forced To Contact Them Because There Is No "Cancel Plan" Option
Add New Image
What do you think ?
ZGutr 4 months ago
I have to admit there have been a few occasions where I looked up the cancellation before subscribing
Kelly Scott 4 months ago (edited)
This subscription business is going to make another divide between the haves and the have-nots. What happens when you need to have subscriptions to things in order to get a job or take a university class? I remember when I couldn't take Calculus classes because I couldn't afford the required $300 (at the time) graphing calculator.
ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago
Retail banks & credit unions are just as much a part of the nickel & dime scam culture as anything on this list. You don’t have to be an HNW/ Private Client to manage your money with the same institutions. Fidelity, Citi, Citizens all offer regular/conventional checking accounts and I believed you don’t have to have a really high balance to bank with JP Morgan. If you qualify for private client or hnw banking, you’ll have a 24/7 concierge that will deal with any subscription issue for you. As in, you can literally call them, the person who manages your accounts takes your call directly and yo tell them you want to stop any recurring payments for any sort of transaction. End of. That’s all you have to do. Most people don’t realize there are actual credible, direct service financial institutions out there beyond the more commercial/popular banks and they will take good care of you.
DeoManus Argentem 4 months ago
Agreed. Amex and Discover are even better - they just cancel any new charges if you text them, no human contact required. I had to cancel something my girlfriend unwittingly signed up for using my JPM debit card I let her borrow (I don't enroll in Private Client) and had to go through some extra steps, and talk to people, but it was also sorted out quickly.
Load More Replies... Just_for_this 4 months ago
If it requires a subscription i don't pay for it, if more people did the same this sh!ty behaviour would d!e out.
Bec 4 months ago
I tried multiple programs to do my US taxes for free, which I am in the income range to receive. I'd get to a step and be told I must pay because I have a Health Savings account, or in every step, they have a huge advertisement to pay $ and get their premium service and an itty bitty 'no thanks ' link. I recently received an email about a class action lawsuit for one of them and even though you usually only get a few $, I always fill those out
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 4 months ago
Never hurts to join the class action though. I did years ago for the HelloFresh lawsuit and just got a check for $118. It was so unexpected! I totally forgot about it and I couldn't believe the check amount. I had to Google it to make sure it wasn't a scam.
Load More Replies...
Yayaboobo 4 months ago
Bored Panda sucks now. They have their nerve. I used to be able to read uninterrupted now ads pop up and I can't listen to YouTube anymore. I went from reading everyday to only twice a month.
Jess Smith 4 months ago
[Insert uBlock Origin evangelism here]. Seriously, it's awesome. 10/10. Install [chrome] chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm. It is getting retired due to manifest v3, so I recommend trying uBO Lite if you're new. (I will stay using uBO regular for as long as possible) Install: [chrome] chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin-lite/ddkjiahejlhfcafbddmgiahcphecmpfh. It doesn't try to pressure you into anything, it's free & open source and it works immediately. I've seen ads on a few obscure sites, that's all, and they weren't intrusive and I probably could've blocked them with the element zapper anyhow.
Load More Replies...
Bec 4 months ago
SiriusXM is seriously terrible with this, comes free with your car, then you have to call to cancel and they have to walk through their script.
MeowMix 4 months ago
Every six months I go online to cancel my Sirius subscription I got with my car and they make me chat with customer service who are then magically able to reduce my subscription to as low as $3/month instead of $28/month. I've been doing this for years and I don't feel bad about it because I'm beyond irritated they make you talk to someone to cancel.
Load More Replies... Bernd Herbert 4 months ago
Some of these are outrageous and at least in the EU quite illegal, whereas others not so much and just regular business practice, like the one offering a discount instead of cancelling. How is that sneaky?
kath morgan 4 months ago
Sky tv would have us lie to people; “you may as well wait until the end of the month since you’re already paid up”. The sub doesn’t/didn’t work like that, you would not pay for the unused days.
Bored Panda 4 months ago
That sounds frustrating. Misinformation like that can really affect decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Load More Replies...
Jeff Jones 4 months ago
BRINKS HOME SECURITY Not really a subscription but we did not know we signed up for a 5 yr contract. They put up 4 cameras but they won't activate and record unless you pay more. It's already $50 a month! We just stopped paying them and sent all their equipment back, I think a good loyal dog is cheaper and more rewarding!
zovjraar me 4 months ago
i love telling my bank i lost my card so all those subs can't get their money. i have actually only used this once, when i tried to cancel something and they just gave me the run around. but it did work.
Roland Nijveld 4 months ago
Notice how all of them are none EU... And there is a reason for that.
ZGutr 4 months ago
I have to admit there have been a few occasions where I looked up the cancellation before subscribing
Kelly Scott 4 months ago (edited)
This subscription business is going to make another divide between the haves and the have-nots. What happens when you need to have subscriptions to things in order to get a job or take a university class? I remember when I couldn't take Calculus classes because I couldn't afford the required $300 (at the time) graphing calculator.
ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago
Retail banks & credit unions are just as much a part of the nickel & dime scam culture as anything on this list. You don’t have to be an HNW/ Private Client to manage your money with the same institutions. Fidelity, Citi, Citizens all offer regular/conventional checking accounts and I believed you don’t have to have a really high balance to bank with JP Morgan. If you qualify for private client or hnw banking, you’ll have a 24/7 concierge that will deal with any subscription issue for you. As in, you can literally call them, the person who manages your accounts takes your call directly and yo tell them you want to stop any recurring payments for any sort of transaction. End of. That’s all you have to do. Most people don’t realize there are actual credible, direct service financial institutions out there beyond the more commercial/popular banks and they will take good care of you.
DeoManus Argentem 4 months ago
Agreed. Amex and Discover are even better - they just cancel any new charges if you text them, no human contact required. I had to cancel something my girlfriend unwittingly signed up for using my JPM debit card I let her borrow (I don't enroll in Private Client) and had to go through some extra steps, and talk to people, but it was also sorted out quickly.
Load More Replies... Just_for_this 4 months ago
If it requires a subscription i don't pay for it, if more people did the same this sh!ty behaviour would d!e out.
Bec 4 months ago
I tried multiple programs to do my US taxes for free, which I am in the income range to receive. I'd get to a step and be told I must pay because I have a Health Savings account, or in every step, they have a huge advertisement to pay $ and get their premium service and an itty bitty 'no thanks ' link. I recently received an email about a class action lawsuit for one of them and even though you usually only get a few $, I always fill those out
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 4 months ago
Never hurts to join the class action though. I did years ago for the HelloFresh lawsuit and just got a check for $118. It was so unexpected! I totally forgot about it and I couldn't believe the check amount. I had to Google it to make sure it wasn't a scam.
Load More Replies... Yayaboobo 4 months ago
Bored Panda sucks now. They have their nerve. I used to be able to read uninterrupted now ads pop up and I can't listen to YouTube anymore. I went from reading everyday to only twice a month.
Jess Smith 4 months ago
[Insert uBlock Origin evangelism here]. Seriously, it's awesome. 10/10. Install [chrome] chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm. It is getting retired due to manifest v3, so I recommend trying uBO Lite if you're new. (I will stay using uBO regular for as long as possible) Install: [chrome] chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin-lite/ddkjiahejlhfcafbddmgiahcphecmpfh. It doesn't try to pressure you into anything, it's free & open source and it works immediately. I've seen ads on a few obscure sites, that's all, and they weren't intrusive and I probably could've blocked them with the element zapper anyhow.
Load More Replies... Bec 4 months ago
SiriusXM is seriously terrible with this, comes free with your car, then you have to call to cancel and they have to walk through their script.
MeowMix 4 months ago
Every six months I go online to cancel my Sirius subscription I got with my car and they make me chat with customer service who are then magically able to reduce my subscription to as low as $3/month instead of $28/month. I've been doing this for years and I don't feel bad about it because I'm beyond irritated they make you talk to someone to cancel.
Load More Replies... Bernd Herbert 4 months ago
Some of these are outrageous and at least in the EU quite illegal, whereas others not so much and just regular business practice, like the one offering a discount instead of cancelling. How is that sneaky?
kath morgan 4 months ago
Sky tv would have us lie to people; “you may as well wait until the end of the month since you’re already paid up”. The sub doesn’t/didn’t work like that, you would not pay for the unused days.
Bored Panda 4 months ago
That sounds frustrating. Misinformation like that can really affect decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Load More Replies... Jeff Jones 4 months ago
BRINKS HOME SECURITY Not really a subscription but we did not know we signed up for a 5 yr contract. They put up 4 cameras but they won't activate and record unless you pay more. It's already $50 a month! We just stopped paying them and sent all their equipment back, I think a good loyal dog is cheaper and more rewarding!
zovjraar me 4 months ago
i love telling my bank i lost my card so all those subs can't get their money. i have actually only used this once, when i tried to cancel something and they just gave me the run around. but it did work.
Roland Nijveld 4 months ago
Notice how all of them are none EU... And there is a reason for that.
Related on Bored Panda
