Quick answer: cancel with the seller, keep every record and check later statements. If the company keeps charging or the subscription was not properly authorized, contact your card issuer or financial institution and your provincial or territorial consumer protection office.
1. Read the offer and contract
Locate the free-trial or subscription terms, renewal date, price after any promotion, cancellation procedure and minimum commitment. Consumer contract rules vary by province and territory, so avoid assuming that one cooling-off rule applies across Canada.
2. Cancel and keep evidence
- Use the merchant’s stated account, email, telephone or written process.
- Record your account number and requested end date.
- Save receipts, emails, text messages, chat transcripts and screenshots.
- Ask the merchant to confirm cancellation and any final amount in writing.
Please cancel [service/account number] effective [date] and stop automatic renewal. Please confirm the cancellation date, final balance and that no further payments will be taken after the contract ends.
3. Watch your payment account
Review your credit card or bank statements after cancellation. If another charge appears, send the merchant your proof and request a correction. If you cannot resolve it, contact the financial institution promptly and explain whether the transaction was unauthorized or continued after cancellation.
For a pre-authorized debit, ask your financial institution about stopping future payments and the procedure for a debit that did not follow the agreement. Stopping a payment does not necessarily end the service contract or erase a valid balance.
4. Get local help
The Competition Bureau advises consumers caught by subscription traps to keep documents, monitor statements, and contact their card provider, local consumer protection organization or law enforcement when appropriate. Your provincial or territorial office can explain the contract rules that apply where you live.
Important limit
Cancellation, a bank stop-payment request and a request for a refund are different actions. Complete each one separately and retain the response.