How do I stop unwanted recurring charges?

Ugh, recurring charges – the bane of my existence! Seriously, how do you stop them? I once had this thing happen where I signed up for a free trial of some online workout program – you know, the ones that are totally free for a week, then BAM, $20 a month? Didn’t even realize it until I saw my statement. So frustrating!

So, here’s what I’ve learned the hard way about ditching those pesky unwanted charges:

First, and this is the best approach, try contacting the company directly. It sounds obvious, I know. But it often works! Just find their customer service number or email – sometimes it’s buried, it’s a real treasure hunt! – and politely ask them to cancel the subscription. They usually have a cancellation process; maybe they’ll even offer a refund for the remaining period (fingers crossed!). Remember that time I contacted that music streaming service? It took a couple of emails, but they cancelled it no problem.

But, what if that doesn’t work? What if they ghost you? (It happens more than you’d think!). That’s where your credit card company might come in handy. You can contact them – and I really mean them, not just their automated system. I once had to call my bank three times before I finally talked to a human who actually understood what I was going through!– and ask them to block future payments from that merchant. They might be able to help, but it depends on their policies and how cooperative the merchant is, which is kind of a huge gamble. They may even tell you that you agreed to something, which I will totally admit that happens, too.

Seriously though, proactive cancellation is key. Before signing up for anything, really read the fine print. I know, it’s boring, but it’ll save you a headache and potential money down the line. And for goodness sake, always check your bank statements regularly! It’s tedious, but way better than discovering a year-long subscription to something you forgot you even tried.