I was charged €35 this morning after a free trial ended. I had misread the expiration date and submitted a refund request through Apple Support less than ten minutes after the payment went through. I also cancelled the subscription immediately and explained that I didn't intend to continue paying for it. I've previously received a quick refund from another company in a similar situation, but I'm unsure how Apple handles these requests. Does submitting the request so quickly improve my chances, and how long does Apple usually take to decide and return the money?
4 Answers
You can definitely request a refund, but Apple isn’t automatically required to approve it. Avoid filing a chargeback unless it’s truly necessary, since that could potentially cause problems with your Apple account.
Apple recommends cancelling subscriptions at least 24 hours before they renew, so refunds aren’t guaranteed when the cancellation happens after the charge. That said, the final decision depends on Apple’s review.
I’ve had refunds approved when I submitted the request very soon after forgetting to cancel a subscription. It isn’t guaranteed for everyone, but requesting it within minutes and cancelling right away are both sensible steps. If it’s approved, the decision may come fairly quickly, while the time for the money to appear depends on the payment method.
If you’re in the European Union, consumer withdrawal rules may give you additional rights in some situations. The exact outcome can depend on when the subscription started and whether the service was already used.
Thanks. I submitted the request less than ten minutes after the charge and cancelled the subscription immediately, so I’m hoping that helps. I mainly wasn’t sure how long the review and refund process usually takes.