A canceled subscription that keeps billing you is a paperwork problem. Fix it in writing. Ask for two things in the same letter: cancel the plan and refund the charge. That letter becomes your record if the company stalls and you end up disputing the charge with your bank or card issuer.

Which Rules Actually Apply

Two federal tools carry most of the weight. ROSCA covers online negative-option sales, so it demands clear disclosure, express consent, and a simple cancellation method. The FTC Act is the other. It lets the FTC pursue unfair or deceptive practices, but it hands you no private refund claim.

Then comes the click-to-cancel tangle. The FTC's 2024 amendments were vacated. Since 2026, the older Negative Option Rule text applies again. Do not build your letter on a click-to-cancel right unless you confirm the law in force on your date. FTC guidance on free trials and negative option subscriptions and legal coverage of the Negative Option Rule lay out the split.

States can add layers. Yours might require a reminder before renewal, or it might dictate how cancellation has to work. Check your state attorney general's site before you cite anything.

Card disputes follow their own track. They run on the Fair Credit Billing Act and Regulation Z, not ROSCA. The CFPB billing error rule explains that process.

Sample Letter to Dispute an Auto-Renewal Charge

Copy this, replace the brackets, and send it to the billing department or the email tied to your account.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email] | [Phone]
[Date]

[Company Name]
[Billing Department]
[Company Address]

Re: Dispute of auto-renewal charge and cancellation request
Account: [Account or email]
Transaction: [Transaction ID]
Charge: $[Amount] on [Date]

Dear [Billing Department],

I dispute the auto-renewal charge above. I did not authorize this renewal.

I canceled on [Date] by [method], or I did not receive a clear notice that the subscription would renew. Under the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, you must clearly disclose the renewal terms, obtain my express informed consent, and provide a simple way to cancel. Please cancel the subscription immediately and refund $[Amount] to the original payment method.

I have attached [bank statement, screenshot, cancellation email, chat transcript]. Please send written confirmation that the subscription is canceled and the refund is processed. If you cannot resolve this, I will dispute the charge with my card issuer and file complaints with the FTC and my state attorney general.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Turns out the paper trail matters more than the wording, and most disputes turn on whether you can show what you sent and when. Keep your tone factual. Don't call anyone a thief, and don't threaten a lawsuit unless you plan to file one.

How to Send It So It Counts

1. Save your proof. Bank statement, sign-up email, cancellation email, chat transcript, screenshots. Canceled by phone? Write down the date, time, and the rep's name.
2. Send it to the right place. Use the billing address or email in your account, not a generic feedback form. Put "Dispute and cancellation" in the subject line.
3. Use a trackable method. Email with a read receipt, or certified mail with a return receipt. Keep a copy.
4. Give a deadline. Ask for a refund within 10 to 14 business days, or a written denial.
5. Follow up once. No response? Send the same letter again and mention your first request.
6. Escalate. If the company refuses, dispute with your card issuer. For credit cards, the federal billing error window is generally 60 days from the statement date, so don't sit on it. The CFPB billing error rule walks through the process.
7. File complaints. The FTC doesn't fix individual refunds, but it tracks patterns. Your state AG may help too.

Email Script for a Faster Cancellation

Use this when you want a quick answer before a formal letter goes out.

Subject: Dispute and cancellation - [Account email] - $[Amount] on [Date]

Hello,

I am disputing the auto-renewal charge of $[Amount] on [Date] for [Subscription]. I canceled on [Date] by [method], or I did not receive clear notice before renewal.

Please cancel the subscription and refund the charge to my original payment method. Send written confirmation today. If I do not hear back, I will dispute the charge with my card issuer.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Phone]

If the Company Says No

A denial isn't always the end. What you do next depends on what you want.

Thing is, a card dispute is not a cancellation. Cancel the service too. Skip that and the company may keep billing you while the bank dispute is open.

Gyms, Apps, and Streaming Services

To be honest, gyms are their own beast. Gym contracts often carry their own cancellation clauses, and state health club laws may apply on top. Read the contract for the notice address and method. Send the cancellation there, and keep a receipt.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, and software: cancel in the account settings first. Confirm an end date. Save the confirmation screen or email. Bought the app through Apple or Google? Cancel in the store's subscription settings. The merchant's billing site may not control that renewal at all.

What Not to Claim

Don't say the FTC requires 30 days notice for every subscription. Federal law sets no universal notice period for all renewals. Don't claim a refund is guaranteed. Don't cite a CFR section you haven't checked. If you cite a state law, name the state and verify the current text.

FAQ

Can I dispute a charge if I forgot to cancel? It depends. If the company gave clear notice and easy cancellation, a chargeback may fail. If it hid the terms or made cancellation hard, your case is stronger.

Does the FTC refund my money? No. The FTC takes complaints and sues companies. It doesn't run individual refund claims.

What if I paid by debit card? Different rules apply. Call your bank and ask for the dispute process and deadlines. Credit card billing error rules don't automatically apply.

Do I still need to cancel? Yes. A dispute is not a cancellation. Cancel in the account or per the contract, and keep proof.

Pick one charge you want to fight. Copy the letter. Fill in the dates, the amount, and how you canceled. Send it today, and keep the confirmation.