Start With Your Bank and Card Statements
Your first port of call should be your bank and credit card statements. Log into your bank's mobile app or website and review the last three months of transactions. Look for recurring payments—charges with the same or similar amounts that appear on the same day
each month. Some merchant names can be cryptic, so don't just skim. Look for descriptors like "GOOGLE SERVICES", "APPLE.COM/BILL", or "PAYPAL " followed by an abbreviated name. These often bundle multiple subscriptions, making them hard to identify from the statement alone. Many banking apps now have a dedicated section for "Recurring Payments" or "Automatic Payments" that can give you a clearer list.
Check Directly on Your Smartphone
App subscriptions are often hidden because the charge on your statement just says "Apple" or "Google". You need to check on the device itself. For iPhones, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and then select "Subscriptions". This screen will show every active and expired subscription linked to your Apple ID, along with its price and next renewal date. For Android devices, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, and then select "Payments & subscriptions" followed by "Subscriptions". This will list all recurring charges managed through your Google account. Importantly, uninstalling an app does not automatically cancel the subscription.
Search Your Email and UPI Apps
Most services send an email receipt or a renewal notice before charging you. A quick search of your inbox for terms like "subscription renewal," "your invoice," or "automatic payment" can unearth forgotten charges. In India, with the rise of UPI AutoPay for everything from streaming services to mutual fund SIPs, it's crucial to check your payment apps. Open the UPI app you use most often (like PhonePe, Google Pay, or Paytm) and look for the "AutoPay" or "Mandates" section. This will show you a list of all merchants you've authorised for recurring debits, which you can then review and cancel if needed. The RBI's e-mandate framework requires banks to send you a notification at least 24 hours before a recurring charge, which can also serve as a helpful reminder.
Consider a Subscription Manager App
If juggling statements and settings feels overwhelming, a subscription manager app can help. These tools connect to your accounts to provide a single dashboard of all your recurring expenses. Some apps built for the Indian market are specifically designed to track UPI AutoPay and card e-mandates. Options like Essara, CancelMates, and others let you manually add your subscriptions to get a clear overview of your monthly and yearly spending. They provide reminders before renewal dates, helping you decide whether to keep or cancel a service before you're charged again. While some apps connect to your bank accounts, others work manually, allowing you to maintain privacy by entering the details yourself.
How to Cancel and Take Control
Once you've identified an unwanted subscription, the cancellation process is usually straightforward. For app store purchases, you can typically cancel directly from the "Subscriptions" menu on your iPhone or Android device. If you subscribed on a company's website, you'll likely need to log into your account there to cancel. For UPI mandates, you can cancel them directly within your UPI app's AutoPay section. Under RBI guidelines, merchants must provide a simple way for you to cancel a mandate at any time. If you're struggling to cancel, contact the company's customer support. As a last resort, you can contact your bank to block the payment, but it's always best to cancel at the source first.
