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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsHow to avoid automatic subscription renewal
by Eliah Hecht 
Feb 20th 2009 at 5:00PM
Fortunately, there's an easy solution: cancel your account. Yep, just push that big red button (well, actually, it's a smallish grey button, but you get the idea). You'll still get to play until the time you've paid for runs out. And since Blizzard retains your character and account info indefinitely, you don't have to worry about your characters getting deleted. At the end of the time you've paid for, when you try to log in, you'll get a notice that your pre-paid time has been used up, at which point you can go on the web site and add whatever payment method you like.
I've used this method many times myself. It's only a few extra clicks, and if you want to have more control over how you get billed, it's definitely worth considering, even if it does make the peons cry.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Jason P Feb 20th 2009 6:08PM
I use the prepaid cards, because of my personal financial situation. Using the prepaid cards allows me to control how my money is spent. I did use a credit card (actually my bank debit card) when I first created my account, but then I got a prepaid card. I even called Blizzard's billing department and had them remove the credit card info, so it doesn't automatically renew.
When my time runs out, i get the notice, and then decide if I can buy a new card right away or need to wait till my next paycheck or maybe next month.
slimj091 Feb 20th 2009 6:50PM
thank the lord! now i know how to cancel my account. if it wasn't for you good OP sir i would have surely died in this horrid place! we must spread the word of this new kind of magic called "cancel account".
Keyra Feb 20th 2009 9:16PM
(sniff)
(sniff?)
Do I smell sarcasm, or merely sh------[disconnected from server]
Spiraea Feb 20th 2009 7:38PM
This is how I've always done my WoW subscription from the beginning. I don't want to say I bore of the game easily but after a month's worth of playtime, I like to prioritize my time and think if I REALLY would use another month's. I'm no hardcore player, fairly casual but sometimes I'll play for month after month.. sometimes every 2 or 3 so a recurring plan just doesn't work for me.
Moocakes Feb 20th 2009 8:23PM
Uh, why cancel account, exactly? What's wrong with "changing" subscription plan to "none", after having paid your month or however much, which allows you to play out the remainder of your play time without going through the whole account hassle?
Rallion Feb 20th 2009 10:47PM
From the Account Management page:
"NOTE: All credit card subscriptions are reoccurring. You may return to this page in Account Management at any time to change your subscription settings."
If you pay with a credit card, like I do, there is no non-recurring plan. There's recurring, and there's canceled.
Sibe Feb 20th 2009 10:11PM
The author can say it...
Or for people that just don't want to play anymore!
Nuts Feb 21st 2009 3:30AM
Ive been doing this ever since I started playing wow about two years ago. I go for three months at a time and I plan in breaks around christmas and summer and other times when I either dont have time to play or dont feel like it. I usually take a long break from the game between may/june and august/september.
The trick is to calculate when to start a subscription so that it will end when I know that I wont play - ie summer when I want to be outside. I stick to the threemonths plan. Another trick is to figure out what to write in the comment, would be much better if I could choose an option that says that this is a recurring schedule - Ill be back after this break...
Hydden Feb 21st 2009 6:51AM
Um, you can just cancel the recurring plan.
1) Log into your Account Management page
2) Scroll down to your credit card details, and select "Change Subscription Plan
3) Select the fourth option: "Cancel recurring subscription plan"
4) Press Update.
No need to cancel your whole account at all.
Ysindor Feb 21st 2009 7:10AM
Always done it like that, I don't see a reason why *I* should subscribe. Blizz on the other hand really prefers having subscriptions because their accountants like that a lot. Looks better in the books.
Just a minor inconvenience that one-time payment is not available from the account management...
Badger Feb 21st 2009 3:28PM
"Yep, just push that big red button (well, actually, it's a smallish grey button, but you get the idea)."
... The SHINY red button?
... The JOLLY, CANDY-LIKE button?
Nathan Feb 23rd 2009 9:29AM
OR you simply remove your billing information..
Tish Feb 23rd 2009 12:28PM
If you are really a penny pincher, this is a great way to save money over the long time if you don't play everyday.
If your subscription runs out on Monday, but you don't log on to play until Thursday. You just saved 3 days of paying. Over the long run that could eventaully pay for a whole month subscription.
Although probalby not all that important to most people. Including myself.
Aceman67 Feb 24th 2009 8:02AM
I simply deleted my CC. Didn't need to cancel my account.