The Creep of Subscription Costs
In the digital age, it's easier than ever to sign up for services. A free trial for an OTT platform, a premium upgrade for a photo-editing app, or a productivity tool for work can all be activated with a single tap. The convenience is undeniable, but
it comes with a hidden cost. Many of these services automatically convert free trials into paid subscriptions. Before you know it, you're paying for multiple services you've forgotten about or no longer need. This phenomenon, often called 'subscription creep', results in a steady financial bleed that many people don't notice until they take a closer look at their statements. Simply deleting an app from your phone does not cancel the subscription. The payment instruction lives on in your Google or Apple account, or as a mandate with your bank, continuing to charge you.
For iPhone Users: An App Store Audit
If you're an iPhone user, your Apple ID is the central hub for most of your app-based subscriptions. Finding and cancelling them is a straightforward process. First, open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone. Tap on your name at the very top to access your Apple Account settings. From there, select 'Subscriptions'. This screen will show you a list of all your active and expired subscriptions that are billed through Apple. Tap on any active subscription you wish to terminate. You should see a 'Cancel Subscription' button; tap it and confirm your choice. If you don't see a cancel button, or if it shows an expiration date in red, the subscription has already been cancelled and will not renew.
For Android Users: A Play Store Check-up
On Android devices, the Google Play Store is your command centre for managing subscriptions. To begin, open the Play Store app. Tap on your profile icon, which is usually in the top-right corner of the screen. In the menu that appears, select 'Payments & subscriptions'. Next, tap on 'Subscriptions'. This will display all the recurring services linked to your Google Account. Go through the list and select any subscription you want to stop. Tap 'Cancel subscription' and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm. Remember, after cancelling, you can typically continue to use the service until the end of the current paid billing period.
Dig Deeper: Your UPI AutoPay Mandates
Not all recurring payments are tied to app stores. Many services in India now use UPI AutoPay, which lets them debit your account based on a mandate you approve. To get a complete picture, you need to review these mandates. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) offers a central portal for this purpose. By visiting upihelp.npci.org.in and logging in with your mobile number, you can see a consolidated list of all your active UPI mandates across different apps. You can then revoke any unwanted mandate directly from the portal. Alternatively, you can check within each UPI app you use—like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm—by navigating to their 'AutoPay' or 'Mandates' section to view and cancel active instructions.
The Old-Fashioned Method: Bank Statements
For subscriptions set up directly on a website with a debit or credit card, the charge won't appear in your app store or UPI mandate list. This is where a classic review of your bank and credit card statements becomes essential. Set aside time each month to scan your statements for recurring charges. Look for merchant names you don't recognise or payments for services you've stopped using. Many banking apps now have features that can help identify recurring payments, making this process easier. Once you identify an unwanted direct debit, you'll likely need to visit the service provider's website and log into your account there to cancel it. This is the most manual method, but it’s crucial for catching everything.
