Recover After a Subscription Trap or Unwanted Recurring Charge
How to identify, cancel, and seek refunds for subscription traps and unwanted recurring charges from services you did not knowingly sign up for.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Identify the company name on your bank statement and search for their official cancellation process
- Log in to any account you may have created and cancel the subscription through the account settings if possible
- Screenshot the cancellation confirmation — some services deny you cancelled without documented proof
- Contact your bank or card provider to flag the recurring charge as potentially fraudulent or unauthorised
- Check for any related small 'trial fee' charge — subscription traps often begin with a small amount before escalating
First 24 hours
- Contact the company directly in writing (email) to request cancellation and a refund, citing that the subscription terms were not clearly disclosed
- If the company does not respond or refuses, contact your card issuer to request a chargeback for the most recent charge
- Report the company to the FTC (US), Trading Standards (UK), or your national consumer authority if terms were genuinely hidden
Contact your bank or payment provider
- Request cancellation of the continuous payment authority (CPA) or card-not-present recurring authority with your bank
- Request a chargeback for recent charges, citing 'unauthorised recurring charge' or 'subscription terms not adequately disclosed'
- Ask your bank to flag the merchant for any further charges and to decline them
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the original sign-up page if you can access it via browser history or a cached version — capture any hidden or small-print subscription terms
- Keep records of all charges from the company, your cancellation request, and any response
- Note when the subscription started, what you believed you were signing up for, and when you discovered the recurring charge
Secure your accounts and devices
- Use a virtual or temporary card number for free-trial sign-ups to prevent future subscription trap exposure
- Review all recurring charges on your bank and card statements at least monthly
- Unsubscribe from the email list associated with the subscription — the company may use it for further scam attempts
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Subscription traps — also called 'negative option' billing — work by enrolling customers in recurring subscriptions through free trials or low-cost offers where the recurring billing terms are buried, pre-checked, or in very small print. They are widespread in diet supplements, streaming, software, and online service sectors. In both the UK and US, regulators have taken enforcement action against the worst offenders.
Your most effective remedies are: cancellation through the provider's own system (documented), chargeback for recent charges through your card provider, and a CPA cancellation instruction to your bank to prevent future charges. For persistent merchants, replacing your payment card removes all recurring access.
Frequently asked questions
Can my bank really cancel a recurring subscription charge?
Yes. Under UK FCA rules and US card network rules, you have the right to cancel a continuous payment authority (CPA) at any time by instructing your bank. Your bank must comply. This does not cancel your contract with the merchant but stops the payments — you may also need to cancel directly with the merchant.
I signed up for a free trial and forgot to cancel — can I still get a refund?
Contact the company directly first and explain the situation — many will offer a goodwill refund for a first billing if you cancel promptly. If they refuse and the subscription terms were not clearly disclosed, a chargeback citing 'unclear subscription terms' or 'terms not adequately presented' may still succeed through your card provider.