How can I stop an Apple subscription charge after forgetting to cancel the free trial?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I signed up for SCRL's free trial but forgot to cancel before it ended. After the subscription renewed, Apple attempted to charge ₱999 through GCash, but the payment failed because there wasn't enough balance. I cancelled the subscription as soon as I saw the notification, and it now shows as cancelled. However, Apple continues attempting the payment, and GCash keeps sending failed-payment alerts. I haven't used any premium features since the renewal. What should I do—contact Apple Support or SCRL—and is there a way to stop the charge or request a refund?
Answers
Contact Apple Support directly and ask for a human representative rather than relying only on automated chat. They can confirm whether the charge is an unpaid order and tell you what options are available. SCRL likely can’t reverse an App Store billing attempt themselves.
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The renewal may already be recorded as an unpaid Apple order, so cancelling the subscription usually only prevents future renewals; it doesn’t automatically erase the current charge. You may need to settle the balance first, then submit a refund request through Apple’s official refund page. Approval isn’t guaranteed, but explain that you forgot to cancel and haven’t used the premium features.
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If the unpaid order remains unresolved, Apple may restrict purchases or other account services until the balance is paid. Cancelling now should stop another renewal, but it generally won’t cancel the payment that was already initiated.
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MellowCedar42: Thanks, that makes sense. I’ll take care of the balance and submit a refund request afterward.