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 Showtime ($10.99/mo) subscribers in New York, citing applicable state and federal law.
New York's Auto-Renewal Law (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527) gives you specific protections when dealing with Showtime subscriptions:
Penalties: Violations subject to AG enforcement and consumer private action
Applied to Showtime (Website or app) in New York
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.
New York note: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527 requires Showtime 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 or app · Difficulty: easy
Showtime-specific tips
No refunds.
Under N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527, you may be entitled to a full refund if Showtime didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to Showtime in every state, including New York:
SubScrub auto-cites N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527 + sends legally-backed letters