How to recover money after canceling a subscription, including partial-month refunds, post-cancellation charges, and trial-to-paid conversions. This guide applies specifically to Spotify ($5.99-$16.99/mo) subscribers in San Francisco, California. California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) protects you.
California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600) gives San Francisco residents specific protections when dealing with Spotify:
Penalties: Consumers can recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages per violation
Applied to Spotify (Website only (not app)) for San Francisco residents
Request a refund within 24–72 hours
Contact the company immediately by phone or email. State: 'I canceled on [date] and was charged [amount]. I am requesting a full refund under your refund policy.' Many companies have a grace period.
Cite ROSCA if the trial auto-converted
The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (15 USC § 8403) requires clear disclosure before a trial converts. If terms weren't clearly disclosed, the charge is legally questionable.
Escalate to a supervisor
If the first agent denies your refund, ask for a supervisor. Supervisors have more discretion. Be polite but firm — state you are prepared to file a chargeback.
File a chargeback if denied
Call your credit card issuer. Say: 'I want to dispute a charge from [company]. I canceled the service and they continued to charge me / the trial terms were not clearly disclosed.' Provide your cancellation documentation.
File an FTC complaint
Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov and report the company. The FTC uses these complaints to prioritize enforcement. Companies with many complaints face investigation.
Method: Website only (not app) · Difficulty: easy
Spotify-specific tips
No prorated refunds. Keeps premium until period ends.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600, San Francisco residents may be entitled to a full refund if Spotify didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 for San Francisco residents