Unauthorised app billing

I downloaded an app and before the trial ended tried to cancel it and you have to go to their website- so I did and I cancelled it.

They billed me anyway £199


they wont answer emails or social media messsages

Posted on Feb 19, 2024 12:50 PM

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Posted on Feb 19, 2024 3:58 PM

Normally if you download a free trial you can manage that from your phone- subscriptions.

this one doesnt go to your phone subscriptions area in settings, you have to click in the app to manage the subscription and it goes to their website but none the less i did cancel it AND they this is on apples app store… so are you going to help me at all or not??

In the past, apps were not allowed to link outside of the App for payments. Apple has been sued by developers who have wanted to be able to link outside for payment with Apple arguing that they would no longer be able to cancel their subscriptions on the device and that users would be forced to deal with the app's owner for payment problems and cancellations. The only way Apple can control the charges is through an in-app purchase and they have no control over you signing up for a subscription on any website whether it is linked from the app or not. Apple has now been forced to allow the apps to link outside. YouTube is another example of an app that will now let you subscribe to the service outside the App Store and those also need to be cancelled on the YouTube site and any payment problems have to be handled by YouTube.


In the future if you want protections from Apple, you need to only use the in-app purchases and not sign up to any service outside of the app. You are free to contact Apple directly, but I believe the resolution is going to come from continued effort on your part to resolve the problem with the website or dispute the charge on the payment method used.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 19, 2024 3:58 PM in response to jamesNes

Normally if you download a free trial you can manage that from your phone- subscriptions.

this one doesnt go to your phone subscriptions area in settings, you have to click in the app to manage the subscription and it goes to their website but none the less i did cancel it AND they this is on apples app store… so are you going to help me at all or not??

In the past, apps were not allowed to link outside of the App for payments. Apple has been sued by developers who have wanted to be able to link outside for payment with Apple arguing that they would no longer be able to cancel their subscriptions on the device and that users would be forced to deal with the app's owner for payment problems and cancellations. The only way Apple can control the charges is through an in-app purchase and they have no control over you signing up for a subscription on any website whether it is linked from the app or not. Apple has now been forced to allow the apps to link outside. YouTube is another example of an app that will now let you subscribe to the service outside the App Store and those also need to be cancelled on the YouTube site and any payment problems have to be handled by YouTube.


In the future if you want protections from Apple, you need to only use the in-app purchases and not sign up to any service outside of the app. You are free to contact Apple directly, but I believe the resolution is going to come from continued effort on your part to resolve the problem with the website or dispute the charge on the payment method used.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Feb 19, 2024 1:47 PM in response to jamesNes

When you sign up for a subscription on the apps website, it takes Apple out of the loop to be able to cancel it on your device. They would apparently prefer you do this so it cannot be cancelled by Apple. Your options now are only to deal with them, which I understand they are not answering your emails, or dispute the charge on the payment method.

Feb 19, 2024 1:29 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

They are called Nerva - gut health app


you download it on the app store but you cannot manage the subscription or trial on the subscriptions area of your phone. It says you can only manage it via their website


and.. if their terms state, which were never highlighted anywhere, that if a user downloads it off the apple app store they cannot have a refund but if you download it on google play you can….(?)!

Feb 19, 2024 1:57 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

Normally if you download a free trial you can manage that from your phone- subscriptions.


this one doesnt go to your phone subscriptions area in settings, you have to click in the app to manage the subscription and it goes to their website but none the less i did cancel it AND they this is on apples app store… so are you going to help me at all or not??



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Unauthorised app billing

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