🔁 Can I cancel a subscription that renews automatically?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes — you can cancel a subscription that renews automatically, and the seller must make that possible. Under the Consumer Contracts Act no. 16/2016 a consumer has a 14-day right to withdraw from a distance contract or an off-premises contract — without giving any reason and without cost beyond what the Act allows. If the subscription is open-ended or renews automatically, the seller must state the cancellation terms clearly before the contract is made. The myth that keeps people trapped: that automatic renewal locks you in for another whole year and there is no way out. That is wrong — the seller may neither hide the cancellation route nor demand a reason, and you can often cancel at any time on the agreed notice. If the service begins within the 14-day window at your request, you may have to pay pro rata for what was already delivered. A written cancellation with a date is your best proof if there is a dispute about when the contract ended.

📋 The rules

A consumer has a 14-day period to withdraw from a distance or off-premises contract without giving a reason (Act no. 16/2016).
If a contract is open-ended or renews automatically, the seller must clearly disclose the cancellation terms before it is concluded — otherwise the commitment can fail.
Silence is not consent: the seller may not treat your inaction as confirmation of a continued or new subscription.
The withdrawal period starts when the service is agreed or when you take delivery of goods, and is 14 days at minimum.
If the service begins at your request within the period, you may withdraw but may owe a pro-rata amount for what was already provided.

🔓 Exceptions

The distance-selling right does not apply to contracts made in a shop in person — the 14-day period is tied to distance and off-premises sales.
Some services are exempt from the 14-day right, such as accommodation for a set date, car hire and leisure tied to a specific date.
Digital content delivered immediately follows a special rule: the withdrawal right can lapse the moment download or streaming begins with your consent.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

If the cancellation terms were not stated clearly before the contract was made, the consumer's commitment can fall away, and the seller then has no claim to continued payments. If a company keeps charging your card after a valid cancellation, you can dispute the transaction with your card issuer (a chargeback) and demand a refund. Neytendastofa (the Consumer Agency) supervises trading practices and can ban misleading or coercive terms, order corrections and impose daily fines until the order is met. The hidden cost, however, often lands on the consumer: forget to cancel before the cancellation date and the subscription renews and binds you for another period, and a refund for time already run is rarely automatic. That is why a written cancellation with a date — an email or an in-app message — is the most valuable proof if there is a dispute about when the contract ended. Relying on a phone call with no confirmation is the most expensive route.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I cancel a subscription at any time?

Open-ended subscriptions can generally be cancelled on the notice stated in the terms, and the seller must have disclosed that notice before the contract was made. If those terms were not stated clearly, the commitment can fail, so you are not bound for longer than can reasonably be expected.

Do I have to give a reason to cancel?

No, within the 14-day distance-selling window you may withdraw without giving any reason and without penalty. After the period ends, cancellation follows the subscription terms, but the seller may not demand a reason as a condition of letting you stop.

Can the company renew my subscription automatically without my consent?

Automatic renewal is allowed if you agreed to it and the seller disclosed the terms clearly before the contract was made. Your silence or inaction does not count as consent to a new or more expensive subscription, and misleading presentation can draw the attention of Neytendastofa.

What can I do if my card is charged after I cancelled?

You can dispute the transaction with your card issuer and demand a refund, especially if you have written confirmation of the cancellation. Neytendastofa can also act against a company that ignores valid cancellations or hides the cancellation route, including through daily fines.

Do I get a refund for the time left if I quit mid-period?

It depends on the subscription terms; many services do not refund a prepaid period but let you use it until it runs out. If the service began within the 14-day window at your request, you may have to pay pro rata for what was already delivered, but no more than that.

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