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 Hulu ($7.99-$17.99/mo) subscribers in Illinois, citing applicable state and federal law.
Illinois's Automatic Contract Renewal Act (815 ILCS 601) gives you specific protections when dealing with Hulu subscriptions:
Penalties: Renewal is void if notice requirements not met
Applied to Hulu (Website) in Illinois
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.
Illinois note: 815 ILCS 601 requires Hulu to provide an easy cancellation mechanism.
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 · Difficulty: easy
Hulu-specific tips
No refunds. Access until end of billing period.
Under 815 ILCS 601, you may be entitled to a full refund if Hulu didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to Hulu in every state, including Illinois:
SubScrub auto-cites 815 ILCS 601 + sends legally-backed letters