Understanding subscriptions and ongoing costs
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Know what you are paying for, including free trials and renewals.
What is a subscription?
A subscription is a payment that repeats, often monthly or yearly, for access to an app or service. Examples include streaming, cloud storage, security software and some AI tools. The initial price of a device may not include these ongoing costs.
Small payments add up
For example, NZ$12 a month is NZ$144 over a year. Three services costing NZ$12, NZ$15 and NZ$20 a month add up to NZ$564 a year. These are examples, not current prices for particular services.
Be careful with free trials
A free trial may turn into a paid subscription automatically. Before starting, check when the trial ends, what it will cost, how often you will be charged and how to cancel. Set yourself a reminder if that helps.
Do I need the paid version?
Some apps and AI assistants offer free options. Try the free version first if it meets your needs. When buying a device, ask whether suggested extras are optional and whether you already have something similar.
How do I find my subscriptions?
Check bank statements for repeated payments, your email for renewal notices and the subscriptions area of your Apple or Google account. Be cautious with unexpected renewal emails: open the official app or website yourself rather than following a suspicious link.
How do I cancel?
The steps depend on where you subscribed. A service bought through Apple or Google is usually managed through that account; other subscriptions may need cancelling on the provider's official website. Deleting an app usually does not cancel the subscription. Check for any minimum term or cancellation charge and keep confirmation.
If a payment surprises you
Check what the charge is for. Contact the service provider using official contact details. If you think a payment is unauthorised, contact your bank promptly. Cancelling a payment method is not always the same as ending a contract.
One last thing
Know what you are agreeing to, what it will cost over time and how to stop paying if you no longer need it.
Sources and further reading
These links offer more information if you would like to explore the topic.
- Apple: Manage and cancel subscriptions — Find subscriptions billed through Apple.
- Google Play: Cancel a subscription — Find subscriptions billed through Google Play.
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