TL;DR: Too long, Didn’t read
The Trap: You sign up for a “Free Trial,” forget to cancel, and get charged. The company makes it impossible to find the “Unsubscribe” button.
The Solution: This is called a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA). It is not a Direct Debit, but you have the same rights to stop it.
The “Bank Lie”: Banks often say “You have to cancel with the merchant.” This is false. The FCA says the bank must cancel it if you ask.
The Refund: If a payment goes out after you asked the bank to stop it, the bank must refund you immediately.
We have all done it. You sign up for a 7-day free trial to watch one movie or get free delivery. You forget about it. Two weeks later, you see a transaction for £29.99 on your bank statement. You try to cancel, but the website is broken, nobody answers the phone, and the “Unsubscribe” button is hidden.
Panic sets in. You think you are locked in. You aren’t. You hold the “Kill Switch.”
The Law: Direct Debit vs. CPA
Most people think these payments are Direct Debits. They aren’t. They are Continuous Payment Authorities (CPAs). This is where you give a company your long card number (not sort code/account number).
The Myth: “Only the company can cancel a CPA.”
The Truth: Under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, you have the legal right to cancel a CPA directly with your bank.
Step 1: Try the Merchant (Evidence)
Always try to cancel with the company first. Take a screenshot of the “Error” page or save the email you sent. This proves you tried.
Note: If you are within 14 days of the charge, check our Cooling Off Period guide—you might be entitled to a full refund anyway.
Step 2: The “Kill Switch” (Contact the Bank)
If the company plays dead, call your bank or open your Banking App. Say these exact words:
“I wish to cancel the Continuous Payment Authority for [Company Name]. I am withdrawing my consent for all future payments.”
Warning: Many bank staff are poorly trained on this. If they say “We can’t,” tell them:
“You are obligated to stop this payment under the Payment Services Regulations. If you allow another payment to go through, you will be liable to refund it.”
Step 3: Getting Your Money Back
If you cancel the CPA and the money still leaves your account the next month: The Bank must refund you. They cannot say “Take it up with the merchant.” They failed to stop the payment, so they must pay it back.
A Quick Story: Meet David
The Trap: David signed up for a “Free Gym Pass” trial. He emailed them to cancel, but they ignored him and charged him £45.
The Block: He called his bank (Santander). The advisor said: “Sorry, you authorized this. You need to speak to the gym.”
The Law: David quoted the FCA Regulation: “A customer has the right to cancel a CPA directly with the card issuer.”
The Win: The advisor apologized, blocked all future payments from the gym immediately, and refunded the £45 because David had tried to cancel previously.
Summary: Take Control
Your debit card is not a blank cheque.
Cancel with the company (keep proof).
Instruct your bank to stop the CPA.
Demand a refund if they fail.
(Sources: FCA – Cancelling a CPA, Citizens Advice – Stopping Future Payments)
This guide is for information purposes only. If you signed a minimum-term contract (e.g., 12 months), cancelling the payment does not cancel the debt—they can still pursue you for the money owed.