Introduction
Setting up a recurring payment on PayPal is easy to do. It’s also easy to forget about until you get the next bill. As a result, it’s important to keep an eye on what service providers you’ve set up recurring payments with, and when you no longer need them to cancel them before you get charged again. The process for cancelling recurring PayPal payments is different between the PayPal mobile app and the PayPal website.
Some of the images associated with the steps are included inline below. All images associated with these steps can be seen in the embedded YouTube video. Also, please note that you’re not able to leave a comment directly on this article. If you have a question or feedback, please leave it on the YouTube video.
Steps to Cancel Recurring Payment on PayPal Website
- Open a web browser, navigate to www.PayPal.com, and then log in to your PayPal account if prompted. You’ll land on your PayPal home screen.
- Click the “Settings” icon at the top of the screen. Settings options will be shown on the lower part of the screen.
- Click “Payments” in the list of options. Payments options will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
- Find the Automatic Payments section, and then click “Manage Automatic Payments.” The Automatic Payments screen is shown, where you’ll see a list of service providers you’ve given approval to make automatic payments to.
- Click to place the toggle next to “Show Active” to make sure you’re looking at payments that are active and could be using automatic payments. It’s important to note that while these service providers have permission to use automatic payments with your PayPal account, there may not be any active payments associated with those service providers.
- To check to see if a service provider is using automatic payments, click the name of a service provider in the column on the left side of the screen. The information associated with that recurring payment to that provider will be shown on the right side of the screen.
- Scroll down to the Payments Will Be Made Every section. If there is a description in this field, which in this example is yearly, then this is an active recurring payment.
You can scroll down further to the Billing Details section to see when your next recurring payment is, the amount you’ll pay at that time, and more.
Scrolling down to the Past Payments section at the bottom will show you your history of these recurring PayPal payments.
- If you no longer want to pay for this service as a recurring payment through PayPal, scroll up to the top and then click “Cancel.” A window pops up asking if you want to cancel this automatic payment going forward.
- Click “Cancel Automatic Payments.” The next screen lets you know that you’ve successfully canceled your automatic PayPal payment and you’re good to go.
- Click “Done.” You can confirm this recurring payment is cancelled by navigating back to the Automatic Payments screen and setting the toggle to Show Inactive. You should see the recurring payment you canceled, which now has a status of Inactive.
Reasons to Cancel Recurring Payment on PayPal Website
1. Service No Longer Required
People often subscribe to a variety of services. Over time, they might lose interest or find these services unnecessary. For example, someone may have a recurring payment for an online magazine. As their interests shift, they may find the magazine no longer appealing. The same could happen with memberships to sports clubs, online education platforms, or music streaming services. Canceling the recurring PayPal payment in such cases helps prevent unnecessary charges.
2. Unsatisfactory Service
Quality of service is a significant determinant for customer loyalty. Recurring PayPal payments might be linked to a service that no longer meets a customer’s expectations. This dissatisfaction might stem from the decline in quality, poor customer service, or frequent technical issues. As a response, the user may choose to cancel the recurring payment associated with that service.
3. Cost Savings
Everyone tries to save money, and one way is by eliminating non-essential costs. Recurring payments can add up to significant amounts over time. A person may decide to cut costs by canceling recurring payments for services they rarely use. This could range from digital subscriptions to gym memberships. Reducing these small but steady drains on their finances can contribute to overall savings.
4. Switching Providers
Competition is high in today’s market. A consumer may find a provider who offers a similar service at a lower cost or with better features. In such a case, they would naturally want to switch providers. Canceling the recurring PayPal payment to the former provider becomes a necessary step in the process of switching.
5. Automatic Renewal
Many services use the auto-renewal feature. This automatically charges the user when a subscription period ends. Sometimes, users may forget about these subscriptions. They may not want to renew a service for the upcoming cycle. Canceling the recurring payment is a preventive measure against unwanted renewal charges.
6. Unrecognized Charge
Upon reviewing their financial statements, a user may come across a charge they don’t recognize. It could be a recurring payment they forgot about or one they didn’t authorize. In these cases, canceling the recurring payment is a protective measure against unapproved charges.
7. Payment Method Change
Payment methods can change over time. A user may switch credit cards, open a new bank account, or prefer to use a different method. As a result, they need to cancel the recurring payment linked to the old method. Later, they can set up a new recurring PayPal payment with the updated method.
8. Unintentional Subscription
Free trials are common marketing strategies. They can lead to unintentional subscriptions if the user forgets to cancel before the trial period ends. The user may then be charged regularly for a service they do not need. Canceling these recurring payments prevents further charges for an unwanted service.
9. Budgeting
Sound financial planning often involves budgeting. While setting up their budget, a person might identify unnecessary recurring payments. These might include subscriptions to services they no longer value or use infrequently. Canceling these payments allows for better control over personal finances.
10. Fraud or Suspicious Activity
Fraudulent transactions pose significant risks. A user may identify a recurring PayPal payment they did not authorize, indicating possible fraud or suspicious activity. In these instances, canceling the recurring payment acts as an immediate safeguard against further unauthorized transactions.
