Consumer Rights

Cancelling Online Subscriptions and Auto-Renewals in Ontario

Subscriptions are easy to start and sometimes hard to stop. Here is how to cancel, and what to do if the charges keep coming.

A desk with a laptop by a window

Many subscriptions are internet agreements under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act. Businesses must clearly disclose key information, such as the price, how renewals work and how to cancel, before you sign up, and give you a copy of the agreement.

Shopping online with a tablet and a card
The short answer

Cancel in writing and keep proof. If the business didn't give you the information the law requires, you may have extra rights to cancel and get a refund. Your card issuer may also be able to help.

How to cancel

  1. Use the business's cancellation method, and take screenshots of each step and the confirmation.
  2. Also send a short email saying you are cancelling, with your account details and the date.
  3. Check your next statement.

If charges continue

  • Write to the business, attaching your proof of cancellation, and ask for a refund.
  • Contact your credit card issuer: Ontario law gives consumers a way to ask their card issuer to reverse some charges when a business doesn't refund money it must.
  • File a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario.

Before you subscribe

  • Read the renewal terms: monthly or yearly, and the price after any trial.
  • Set a calendar reminder before a free trial ends.
  • Use a card you can easily monitor.
Talk to NEO

Need help with a consumer dispute? NEO can help you write a demand letter, or bring or defend a claim in Small Claims Court. Call 647-200-3526 or toll-free 888-519-2435, email info@neolegalservices.com, or book a free consultation.

Sources

Read next: Selling Online in Ontario: A Legal Checklist for Your Store

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: A desk with a laptop by a window · Shopping online with a tablet and a card.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.

Not sure where you stand? A licensed paralegal can look at your documents and tell you your options.

Book a Free Consultation

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Law Society of Ontario — Barreau de l'Ontario
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