XBox Live: How to turn off auto-renew?

[QualityChimp]

Hi!

I renewed my Live subscription because there was a spiffy offer on Live.

I added all my credit card details and off we went.

Then after 3 months, it auto renewed, despite the fact I thought I'd cancelled my card.

Now it's warning it's going to auto-renew again, but turning off that feature seems a right kerfuffle.

I've been through about 5 web pages and finally had to email MS to ask them to turn off the auto-renew.

I don't want to cancel my subscription, just let it expire and I'll mooch for better offers when it runs out.

Seriously, there isn't an option anywhere that I can see that just says: Auto-renew subscription? Yes/No.

Is it awkward or can't I see the forest for the trees?!

[charlesr]

I just leave it on and when I get the warning, I search for a better deal.
If you want to stop it completely, remove your card details (not as easy as it sounds....)

[toythatkills]

You have to phone 'em. It's the only way.

It doesn't let you remove expired cards but is happy to continue charging them.

[QualityChimp]

What a crock!

I've had an email with their number on so I'll call them, but it feels like I've got on a bus that was happy to let me on, but won't let me off.

A bit like Speed and I'm Keanu!

[QualityChimp]

It was a right kerfuffle getting there, but I got an email from Microsoft with the number to call to turn off auto-renew.

When asked why I was cancelling it, I told them it was to shop around for a better bargain. He then offered me XBox Live for 12 months with 40% off! It's going to be £24.99!

Game Points Now stock it at £38.95, so that's a great saving!

Might be worth trying that next year!

[Daragon]

Should actually be 23.99, that's what I paid for my over the phone deal anyway.

[MJ]

You can turn it off at Xbox.com by going to My Xbox > Accounts, then you either click where it says "Automatic Renewal: On" on the left and continue through the screens until you eventually get to one where you can choose to disable it, or click on Upgrade/Manage Account in the Accounts section and turn it off in there somewhere.

I can't remember which method I used, but I switched off via one of these routes after I noticed it had been turned on when the new Xbox.com went live.

[QualityChimp]

Got my confirmation email and it is £23.99, so I'm wondering where to spend that extra pound saved...

MJ, If you've found how to turn off Auto-renewal, you're a better man than me. Can you show a screenshot of the page for when I might need to do it later?

They've recently updated the website to reflect the look of the new dashboard, but I don't actually think you can do it online, you have to ring up.

That's what Mr.Man said on the phone and in the email they sent when I enquired:#

Thank you for contacting Xbox Support.

To turn off the Auto Renewal on your Xbox Live Subscription please call Xbox support where a support representative will be happy to assist you. Please have your gamertag and Windows Live ID ready.

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/support/contact/

020 7365 9792
or 0800 587 1102
Hearing Impaired (TTY device):
0800 587 1103
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday: 09:00-22:00
Saturday: 09:00-20:00

[Malc]

Go to the main Xbox website and sign into your account.

Then click on your gamertag name at the top right. Then, near the top of the screen there is a green bar, hover over 'my xbox' and click on 'accounts'.

Then on the new page, there are four sections, the top one being account information. There are 4 green coloured options in that section, click on 'edit payment options'. The option to remover your credit/debit card details should be on this page. I say 'should be', as I have removed my card details a few months back before the update, and there's only an option to add a card for me.

Once your card has been removed, auto renewal should be disabled.

[JP]

In reference to turning off the auto renewal on Xbox.com, it's worth noting that for some reason it isn't available to all Gold members. I remember having no end of issues with my Live account and when I'd sign into Xbox.com the section that was ticked for auto renewal was greyed out so I couldn't change it manually.

I'm not sure if it's the same problems here as everything has been updated since I was messed around by them.

You only have to do a search to see how many people had similar problems when doing this.

I spent months messing around with Microsoft doing this and then trying to get them to remove my credit card details from my account. After countless conversations on the phone and many broken promises I ended up having to email the board of directors who finally got it resolved for me.

It doesn't matter how simple they make it, how trustworthy they think they are I will never auto-renew or add my card details on a Microsoft account again. I just feel safer and happier buying a points card.

[MJ]

You can turn it off at Xbox.com by going to My Xbox > Accounts, then you either click where it says "Automatic Renewal: On" on the left and continue through the screens until you eventually get to one where you can choose to disable it, or click on Upgrade/Manage Account in the Accounts section and turn it off in there somewhere.

I can't remember which method I used, but I switched off via one of these routes after I noticed it had been turned on when the new Xbox.com went live.

MJ, If you've found how to turn off Auto-renewal, you're a better man than me. Can you show a screenshot of the page for when I might need to do it later?

I thought my instructions were clear enough, but if not, when I noticed it had been turned on with the release of the new Xbox.com, I searched Google and then followed Major Nelson's instructions:

http://majornelson.com/archive/2009/07/29/how-to-turn-off-xbox-live-account-auto-renewal.aspx

Even though it's the old site in the screenshot, it still got me to the end result I wanted, but I did have to continue through a number of screens in the new site before getting to the screen that lets you disable this setting.

[Shez]

I've looked high and low trying to find an option to turn it off, even the option to remove the card details results in a fail message coming up:

This payment option cannot be removed at this time. Go to the Payment method information page to view services associated with this payment option.

The payment method pages only allow you to add or edit card details - There is no removal or delete option.

This is so wrong.

On a side note I have since noted that the Uk & Canada have never had the option to turn on or off an auto renew option inside of live.

[QualityChimp]

MJ, you're making me think I'm a bit bonkers, but I definitely don't have the option to turn off auto-renew. It's just text listing how many points, renew date and auto-renew option you've set-up.

On the second page of the auto-renew guide on Major Nelson's Flickr account, somebody has humorously added:

This apparently doesn't work in Germany. You have to make an apointment for a call by MS, where you are forced to justify your engrossing decision to NOT be a gold member forever. This is the reason while many people don't go gold after that.

EDIT: I'm not arguing with you, MJ - I think we're both right!

[MJ]

On a side note I have since noted that the Uk & Canada have never had the option to turn on or off an auto renew option inside of live.

I've never seen the option on the console's account management pages, but I've definitely turned off auto renewals on both the old and new website.

[Shez]

Are you using a US account?

It clearly states on major nelsons page that the renewal turn off option is not available in all live regions.

This guy seems to think it isn't possible - I've looked multiple times now, there is nothing to remove card details, only edit or add.

http://benosullivan.co.uk/xbox/how-to-disable-auto-renew-for-xbox-live/