When someone passes, their subscriptions keep billing until someone tells each company to stop. It is a quiet, draining chore at the worst possible time. This is a calm, ordered way to find every recurring charge, cancel it with the right paperwork, and ask for a refund where one is owed — without missing anything.
Pull the last 12 to 18 months of bank and credit-card statements. Annual subscriptions only show up once a year, so a shorter window misses them. Write down every recurring charge you can see, plus any you already know about from email, the App Store, or shared family plans. One master list keeps you from chasing the same charge twice.
Most companies will only act for someone with legal standing. Have a certified death certificate ready, and where the estate is involved, the document that shows your authority — often letters testamentary or letters of administration naming the executor. Keep certified copies; some providers keep the copy you send.
Reach customer support and ask for the bereavement, deceased-account, or account-closure team. Explain the account holder has passed and that you are handling the estate. Many large services have a dedicated process for this. Note the date, the representative, and any reference number for each call — you may need it if a charge continues.
Work the list from most frequent to least. Cancel monthly subscriptions first so billing stops sooner, then handle quarterly and annual plans. Some close immediately over the phone; others take a few weeks to process. Save every confirmation email or screenshot as proof the cancellation went through.
If a merchant will not cancel or keeps charging, contact the bank or card issuer. In the United States, under Regulation E, a bank generally must stop a pre-authorized recurring debit when asked — ideally in writing, at least three business days before the next scheduled charge. For estate accounts, the bank's estate or probate team can advise on the right path.
The hardest part is making sure nothing is missed. SubScan adds up every recurring charge from a list you build yourself, flags duplicates and forgotten ones, and shows the true monthly and yearly total — so you can work through them with confidence. Everything stays on your device: no bank login, no account, no upload of anyone's data.
Build the subscription list →Most companies ask for a certified copy of the death certificate, and where the estate is involved, proof of your authority such as letters testamentary or letters of administration. Have certified copies ready before you call, since some bereavement teams keep the copy you provide.
No. Subscriptions generally keep billing until the company is formally notified of the death. You have to contact each provider, ask for its bereavement or account-closure process, and confirm the cancellation went through on the next statement.
In the United States, under Regulation E a bank generally must stop a pre-authorized recurring debit when you ask, ideally in writing and at least three business days before the next charge. For estate accounts, ask the bank's estate or probate team to guide the process so the right person is making the request.
Sometimes. Many providers will refund charges billed after the account holder passed, often as a goodwill gesture rather than an obligation. Ask in writing, include the date of death, and keep the confirmation. Policies differ from company to company.
Review 12 to 18 months of statements so annual plans appear, list every recurring charge, and total them in one place. SubScan does the adding and flagging on-device from a list you build, so you can be confident nothing was missed — with no bank login required.
For informational purposes only — not financial or legal advice. Estate, probate, and consumer-protection rules such as Regulation E apply in the United States and processes vary by provider and by state; confirm the current steps with each company, the bank or card issuer, and an estate professional where needed. Brand and service names are used for identification only.