A systematic, step-by-step checklist to audit every subscription you have, decide what to keep, cancel everything else, and recover money from unauthorized or forgotten charges. Block out 30-60 minutes, grab your laptop, and work through this checklist from top to bottom.
What You'll Need
Access to all your bank/credit card accounts (online banking)
Access to your email accounts
Your phone (for checking app store subscriptions)
A spreadsheet or note-taking app to track what you find
30-60 minutes of uninterrupted time
Phase 1: Find Every Recurring Charge (15 minutes)
The goal of Phase 1 is to create a complete list of every recurring charge across all your accounts. Don't evaluate or decide anything yet -- just find them.
Bank & Credit Card Statements
Log into each bank account and credit card you own
Pull up the last 3 months of transactions for each account
Identify every charge that appears monthly (same amount, same merchant)
Check for annual charges by looking at the last 12 months for larger one-time amounts
Note any merchant names you don't immediately recognize
Check for charges under $5 -- these are the most commonly overlooked
Look for charges that appear under different merchant names but may be the same service
App Store Subscriptions
Apple: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions (check Active AND Expired)
Google Play: Play Store → Profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
Amazon: Account → Memberships & Subscriptions
Cross-reference app store subscriptions with credit card charges (watch for duplicates)
Check any IoT device subscriptions (Ring, Nest, security cameras)
Skip Phase 1 Entirely
SubScrub's AI does Phase 1 in 30 seconds. Upload your statement and get a complete list of every recurring charge, including ones you wouldn't catch manually.
Now that you have a complete list, evaluate each subscription using these criteria. For each one, assign it to one of three categories: Keep, Cancel, or Dispute.
Keep If...
You actively used the service in the last 30 days
You have a specific planned use for it in the next 30 days
The service provides genuinely unique value that you can't get elsewhere for free
It's a family plan that other household members actively use
Cancel If...
You haven't used it in the last 30 days
You forgot you had it (a clear sign you don't need it)
You have a duplicate/overlapping service
The price has increased and you wouldn't sign up at the new price today
You're keeping it "just in case" (you can always re-subscribe)
A free alternative exists that meets your needs
Dispute If...
You already canceled but are still being charged
A free trial converted to paid without clear notice
The price increased without your consent
You're being charged for a service you never signed up for
You're being double-charged (app store + direct billing)
The company made it unreasonably difficult to cancel (violating the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule)
Phase 3: Cancel Everything in the "Cancel" List (10 minutes)
Work through your Cancel list one by one. For each subscription:
Cancellation Checklist
Log into the service and navigate to subscription/billing settings
Click "Cancel" (not "Pause" or "Downgrade" -- make sure it's actual cancellation)
Screenshot the cancellation confirmation page
Save the cancellation confirmation email
If the service doesn't offer online cancellation, email them: "I am canceling my subscription effective immediately pursuant to the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (16 CFR Part 425)"
If billed through an app store, cancel through the app store settings (deleting the app is NOT canceling)
Remove stored payment methods from the service
Revoke PayPal automatic payments if applicable
Important: Verify Cancellation
After canceling each subscription, check your bank statement in 30 days to confirm no new charges appear. Many cancellations that seem to go through don't actually process. Documentation is your proof if you need to dispute later.
Phase 4: Dispute and Recover (15 minutes)
For each subscription in your Dispute list, follow this escalation path:
Dispute Process
Contact the company and request immediate cancellation plus a refund of all unauthorized charges
If they refuse, send a written demand letter citing the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (16 CFR Part 425), ROSCA (15 U.S.C. § 8403), and your state's auto-renewal law
If the company doesn't respond within 7 days, file a chargeback with your credit card company
Provide your bank with documentation: cancellation confirmation, correspondence, and list of unauthorized charges
File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint
File a complaint with your state Attorney General's consumer protection division
Phase 5: Prevent Future Waste (5 minutes)
Set up systems to prevent subscription creep from happening again:
Prevention Checklist
Create a subscription tracker (spreadsheet, note, or app) listing every active subscription with amount, billing date, and payment method
Set a quarterly calendar reminder to re-audit (recommended: first Saturday of every quarter)
Consolidate all subscriptions to one credit card so they appear on a single statement
For any new free trial, immediately set a calendar reminder for 1 day before the trial ends
Consider using a virtual card (Privacy.com) for free trials with a $0 spending limit
When signing up for anything new, cancel a service of equal or greater cost first (the "one in, one out" rule)
Review app store subscriptions separately at least once per month
Common Subscription Categories to Check
Use this list to jog your memory. Most people forget at least 2-3 items from this list during their first audit:
Streaming & Entertainment
Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Premium, Spotify, Apple Music, Audible, Kindle Unlimited
Software & Cloud
Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google One, iCloud, Dropbox, 1Password, LastPass, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Grammarly, Notion, Evernote
Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online, Discord Nitro, game-specific subscriptions
Other
Dating apps, education platforms (MasterClass, Skillshare, Coursera), domain registrations, hosting, Ring/Nest camera storage, identity monitoring
Calculate Your Savings
After completing the audit, calculate your results:
Total monthly subscriptions found: ___
Total monthly cost before audit: $___/month ($___/year)
Subscriptions canceled: ___
Monthly savings: $___/month ($___/year)
Refunds/chargebacks filed: ___
Total money recovered/disputed: $___
If you're like the average American, you just found $29/month ($348/year) in subscription waste. If you found more, you're not alone -- many people discover over $100/month in waste during their first audit.
Legal References for Disputes
When disputing unauthorized charges, reference these laws:
FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule -- 16 CFR Part 425 (2024)
California Auto-Renewal Law -- Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602
New York Auto-Renewal Law -- GBL § 527-a
Illinois Auto-Renewal Law -- 815 ILCS 601/15
Or Let AI Audit For You
SubScrub does this entire checklist in 30 seconds. Upload your statement, see every subscription, get your SHOCK number, and generate cancellation guides and recovery letters automatically.