🧾 Why Did I See a Charge After My Trial?

When your free trial ends, Search Atlas automatically converts your account to a paid plan. The charge you see reflects the full monthly (or annual) cost of the plan you selected when you signed up — including any add-ons such as additional OTTO-managed sites.

For example, if your plan includes features that total $513/month, that is the amount billed at the start of your first paid billing cycle. This is expected behaviour and is not a duplicate or error charge.

💰 Where Is My Refund Credit?

If you requested a plan change, downgrade, or cancellation shortly after being billed, our team may have issued a prorated refund credit to your account. Here is how credits work:

• Credits are applied directly to your Search Atlas account balance — they are not returned to your original payment method unless specifically requested.
• Your credit will automatically offset your next invoice, reducing the amount you owe.
• You can verify your current credit balance by going to your Billing page inside the platform.
• If a credit of $503 was issued, for instance, it means the difference between your original charge and your adjusted plan cost has been calculated and reserved for your next billing cycle.

Credits typically appear within 1–3 business days of the adjustment being processed.

⬇️ How to Downgrade Your Number of OTTO-Managed Sites

OTTO site slots are a billable add-on attached to your plan. Reducing the number of active OTTO sites requires a plan modification. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to OTTO SEO in the left sidebar, then open SEO Automation inside it (or go to /seo-automation-v3).
2. Review which OTTO sites are currently active. Identify the site(s) you want to remove from active management.
3. To deactivate OTTO on a site, open that site's OTTO dashboard and select Deactivate OTTO. This stops automated SEO actions for that site.
4. Once you have deactivated the sites you no longer need, go to your Billing page and select Manage Plan to adjust your OTTO site count to match your active sites (for example, reducing from 3 to 1).
5. Save your changes. Your next invoice will reflect the lower site count.

Important: Deactivating OTTO on a site does not automatically reduce your billed site count. You must also update the quantity under Billing → Plans & Top-ups (via Change Plan / Manage Subscription) to stop being charged for unused slots.

📅 When Will My Lower Rate Take Effect?

Plan downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. You will continue to have access to your current plan features until the cycle ends. Any prorated credit for unused time may be applied to your account balance depending on when the change was made.

🔍 How to Check Your Billing History and Credits

To review all charges, credits, and invoices on your account:

1. Click your avatar in the top-right corner of the platform.
2. Select Billing from the dropdown menu (Billing page).
3. Review the Invoice History section for itemised charges and the Credits section for any balance applied to your account.

⚠️ Common Billing Misconceptions

• A large charge after a trial is not a mistake — it reflects your chosen plan activating at full price.
• Refund credits are not instant card refunds — they live on your account and reduce future invoices.
• Deactivating OTTO ≠ removing a billed slot — always confirm your plan quantities in Billing after deactivating a site.
• Downgrades are not retroactive — you will not receive a refund for the current billing period; changes apply going forward.

🛠️ Still Have Questions?

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.