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 Grammarly Premium ($12-$30/mo) subscribers in District of Columbia, citing applicable state and federal law.
District of Columbia's CPPA + Auto-Renewal Protections (D.C. Code § 28-3901) gives you specific protections when dealing with Grammarly Premium subscriptions:
Penalties: CPPA violation — treble damages and attorney fees
Applied to Grammarly Premium (Grammarly website) in District of Columbia
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.
District of Columbia note: D.C. Code § 28-3901 requires Grammarly Premium to provide an easy cancellation mechanism.
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: Grammarly website · Difficulty: medium
Grammarly Premium-specific tips
No refund after 7 days (monthly) or 7 days (annual).
Under D.C. Code § 28-3901, you may be entitled to a full refund if Grammarly Premium didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to Grammarly Premium in every state, including District of Columbia:
SubScrub auto-cites D.C. Code § 28-3901 + sends legally-backed letters