How can I document a subscription cancellation so I can follow up if needed?

Make a short, dated record as you follow the provider’s cancellation instructions. The FTC advises keeping a copy of your cancellation request and notes about conversations, including how and when you requested cancellation. [S1] That gives you a useful account of your own actions without assuming what the provider will send back.

Record the service name as it appears on your account, the date and approximate time, the method you used, and the steps or instructions you followed. Keep a copy of the request or a screenshot of the completed cancellation step if you have one. Avoid adding passwords, full payment-card numbers, or other details that are not needed to identify your record.

Write down the sequence in plain language and save only the most useful supporting item, such as a copy of the request or a screenshot showing the final step you completed. For example, note: “Opened account settings; selected [subscription]; followed the cancellation instructions; submitted the request on [date] at about [time].” Keep that note with the supporting item in a folder or document labeled with the service name and cancellation date.

Treat a screenshot as evidence of what was displayed, not as proof of anything it does not actually show. If the screen did not state that cancellation was complete, your note should say what you saw and did rather than calling it confirmed.

For a conversation, note when it happened, how you contacted the provider, and what was said about the cancellation process. Keep the notes factual: distinguish your request from the representative’s response, and mark anything you are unsure about. The FTC specifically recommends notes about conversations, including how and when cancellation was requested. [S1]

If the provider sends an email, message, confirmation, or case reference, save it with the record and note when you received it. Do not assume every provider will issue one; the guidance supports recording a reference if supplied, not treating it as guaranteed. If you receive no confirmation, simply record that you have not received one as of [date], rather than presenting that as proof of a particular outcome.

Copy this template and complete only the fields that apply:

Subscription cancellation record

• Service or provider: [name]
• Account identifier: [non-sensitive label, if useful]
• Date and approximate time requested: [date and time]
• Cancellation method: [website, app, phone, or other]
• Instructions followed / steps taken: [brief sequence]
• Request submitted or communicated: [what you asked]
• Conversation notes, if any: [date, contact method, and factual summary]
• Confirmation received: [yes/no; date and what it says, if applicable]
• Case or reference number: [number, only if supplied]
• Supporting copy saved at: [your own file location]
• Follow-up needed: [question or next step, if any]

Keep the record neutral and chronological. If you follow up, you can summarize the date and method of your request, what you were told, and whether you received a confirmation or reference. This template organizes your notes; it does not determine whether a cancellation is effective or what a provider is required to do.