Cancelled but still being charged? Get every payment back

Once you have cancelled a subscription, any payment taken afterwards is a payment you no longer authorised. EU law treats this strongly. Because you withdrew your consent to the recurring mandate, charges that follow a valid cancellation can be challenged as unauthorised payments under the Payment Services Directive (PSD2), where your bank must refund without undue delay and the provider carries the burden of proving the payment was authorised. The key to a fast result is proof that you cancelled and when, so a dated confirmation email, screenshot or cancellation reference is your most powerful evidence. Where the provider made cancellation unreasonably hard or ignored your request, that strengthens your case. You can pursue the trader directly for a refund and, in parallel, ask your bank to reverse the post-cancellation charges and cancel the recurring authority.

Published by Reclaim, run by Corey Musa, Founder·Facts and sources checked 2026-09-08·LinkedIn·Built by COM Computing

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Your rights

Under the EU Payment Services Directive 2 (Directive (EU) 2015/2366, PSD2), once you withdraw consent to a recurring payment mandate, subsequent charges are unauthorised. Your payment service provider must refund these no later than the end of the next business day after you notify it (Article 73), with the burden of proving authorisation resting on the provider (Article 72). You have up to 13 months to notify your bank of such unauthorised payments. Separately, you can usually cancel an online service contract within 14 days of agreement without reason. If you do, the trader must reimburse you within 14 days of being informed. The Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) also requires clear contract and cancellation terms. Card scheme chargeback rules provide a further route, for example, allowing up to 8 weeks from the debit date to request a refund from your bank in France.

Step by step

1Gather all proof of cancellation, such as dated confirmation emails, screenshots, or support ticket numbers. This evidence is key to showing exactly when you cancelled.
2Send a written complaint to the provider. List each charge taken after your cancellation date and demand a full refund of those payments, along with written confirmation that the subscription is closed.
3Contact your bank immediately. Instruct them to revoke the recurring payment mandate to prevent further charges. Report the post-cancellation charges as unauthorised under PSD2; you have up to 13 months from the debit date to do this.
4If the bank does not resolve the issue, request a chargeback for each post-cancellation payment. Note that some card schemes may have shorter deadlines, such as 8 weeks from the debit date.
5If direct approaches fail, escalate your complaint. Contact your national consumer authority, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body, or use the EU's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform. For cross-border issues, contact your nearest European Consumer Centre (ECC-Net).

What they'll say, and your comeback

“We have no record of your cancellation.”

Comeback, I have dated proof that I cancelled on a specific date. Every charge taken after that is unauthorised, and under PSD2 the burden is on you to prove I authorised it. Please refund those payments.

“Cancellations only take effect at the end of the next billing cycle plus notice.”

Comeback, Any notice period must be reasonable and clearly stated in the contract. It cannot be used to justify charges months after I cancelled, and charges beyond a valid notice period are unauthorised and refundable.

“Refunds for past billing periods are not possible.”

Comeback, These are payments taken after I withdrew my consent to the recurring mandate. Under PSD2 they are unauthorised transactions that must be refunded, and I will pursue a chargeback if they are not.

What actually happens

In practice, getting a refund for post-cancellation charges often depends on your proof. If you have clear evidence of cancellation, many providers will refund quickly to avoid further action. Expect the trader to take up to 14 days to process a refund if they accept your claim. If the trader disputes it, contacting your bank is the next step. Banks are legally obliged to refund unauthorised payments by the end of the next business day once notified, provided you report it within 13 months. Chargebacks can take longer, typically weeks, but offer another route. Most consumers find resolution either directly with the provider or through their bank. Escalating to consumer authorities or ADR is usually for persistent refusals or larger sums, but often the threat of it is enough.

FAQ

What if I cancelled by phone or in-app and have no email?

Any evidence of the date helps: a call log, an in-app cancellation screen, a support ticket number or even a contemporaneous note. Going forward, always capture a dated screenshot or confirmation, as it makes both a refund request and a chargeback far stronger.

Can my bank stop the charges as well as refund them?

Yes. You can instruct your bank to revoke the continuous payment authority or mandate so the provider cannot take further payments, and separately ask it to refund the charges already taken after your cancellation.

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Sources

A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice. Last researched 2026-09-08.