3 proven methods to uncover every recurring charge across all your accounts — including forgotten trials and zombie subscriptions. This guide applies specifically to Netflix ($6.99-$22.99/mo) subscribers in Oakland, California. California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) protects you.
California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600) gives Oakland residents specific protections when dealing with Netflix:
Penalties: Consumers can recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages per violation
Applied to Netflix (Website or app) for Oakland residents
Download 3 months of bank and card statements
Get PDF or CSV statements from every bank account and credit card. Most banks let you download from online banking. Go back at least 90 days to catch quarterly billing cycles.
Search for recurring amounts
Highlight every charge that appears at the same dollar amount each month. Patterns: $9.99, $14.99, $19.99, $49.99. Annual charges show up once — look back 13 months to catch them.
Check app store subscriptions
iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions. Android: Play Store → Payments & subscriptions. These are managed separately and often forgotten.
Search email for billing receipts
Search Gmail or Outlook for 'receipt', 'subscription', 'renewal', 'billing', 'your plan'. Filter by the last 12 months. This catches services billed via PayPal or gift cards.
Check PayPal and Venmo recurring payments
Log into PayPal → Settings → Payments → Manage automatic payments. Venmo: Settings → Payment methods. Many users have 2–5 forgotten subscriptions here.
Method: Website or app · Difficulty: easy
Netflix-specific tips
No refunds for partial months. Access until period ends.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600, Oakland residents may be entitled to a full refund if Netflix didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 for Oakland residents