The universal playbook for canceling any subscription service — streaming, SaaS, fitness, or otherwise — with legal protections cited. This guide applies specifically to HBO Max (Max) ($9.99-$16.99/mo) subscribers in Irvine, California. California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) protects you.
California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600) gives Irvine residents specific protections when dealing with HBO Max (Max):
Penalties: Consumers can recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages per violation
Applied to HBO Max (Max) (Website or app) for Irvine residents
Find your billing method
Check whether you subscribed directly (company website), through Apple, Google, or your bank. The billing source determines WHERE you cancel — not the company's app.
Locate the cancellation path
Log into your account → Settings → Billing or Subscription. Under the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule, cancellation must be as easy as signup.
Document your cancellation
Screenshot the cancellation confirmation screen. Note the date, time, and any confirmation number. This is your legal protection if they keep charging you.
Watch your next billing statement
Check your statement after the next billing date. If you see a charge after cancellation, you have grounds for a chargeback citing the date you canceled.
Block the merchant if needed
If the company charges you again, call your card issuer and request a merchant block. This prevents future charges even without the company's cooperation.
Method: Website or app · Difficulty: easy
HBO Max (Max)-specific tips
No partial refunds.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600, Irvine residents may be entitled to a full refund if HBO Max (Max) didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 for Irvine residents