Step-by-step process to dispute subscription charges you didn't authorize, including chargebacks, FCBA rights, and when to involve your bank. This guide applies specifically to Wall Street Journal ($4-$39.99/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 Wall Street Journal:
Penalties: Consumers can recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages per violation
Applied to Wall Street Journal (Phone only) for San Francisco residents
Identify the charge source
Find the exact merchant name on your statement. Subscription companies often bill under different names (e.g., 'AMZN Digital' for Amazon Prime). Search the billing descriptor online if unfamiliar.
Contact the company first
Call or email the subscription company and state you are disputing the charge. Get their response in writing. Many will refund rather than face a chargeback, which costs them $20–50 in fees.
File a chargeback with your card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card. Say: 'I want to dispute a recurring charge under the Fair Credit Billing Act. The charge was unauthorized / continued after cancellation.' They are required to investigate.
Submit your evidence
Provide your cancellation confirmation, the unauthorized charge dates, and any communication from the company. The card issuer will request a response from the merchant.
Request merchant blocking
Ask your card issuer to add the merchant to a block list. This prevents future charges from that specific merchant ID, even if they try to re-bill.
Method: Phone only · Difficulty: hard
Wall Street Journal-specific tips
No refund for current period.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600, San Francisco residents may be entitled to a full refund if Wall Street Journal didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 for San Francisco residents