📋 Overview
Search Atlas subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle. If your plan renewed and you were not expecting the charge — particularly for an annual subscription — this article explains how auto-renewal works, what qualifies for a refund, and the exact steps to take right away.
🔄 How Auto-Renewal Works
When you purchase a Search Atlas subscription, auto-renewal is enabled by default. This means your plan will automatically renew at the end of each billing period — monthly or annually — using the payment method on file. Renewal notifications are sent to the email address associated with your account before the charge is processed.
- Annual plans renew once per year and are charged as a single lump-sum payment.
- Monthly plans renew each month on the same date you originally subscribed.
- Renewal reminder emails are sent in advance so you have time to cancel before the next cycle begins.
⚠️ Common Reasons for Unexpected Renewal Charges
Customers sometimes encounter an unexpected renewal charge for one or more of the following reasons:
- A promotional or challenge offer was accepted and included an annual subscription that renewed automatically.
- The renewal reminder email was filtered into a spam or promotions folder and was not seen in time.
- A secondary or duplicate subscription was created during a re-checkout flow, resulting in an additional charge.
- Account access was shared and a team member completed a checkout unintentionally.
Regardless of the reason, our support team reviews each case individually and works with you to find a fair resolution.
✅ Steps to Take Immediately After an Unexpected Charge
- Cancel your subscription to stop future charges. Log in to Search Atlas, click your Profile avatar, go to Billing > Services, open the ⋮ (three-dot) menu on your plan, and select Cancel. A confirmation/retention step will appear before the final confirmation. This prevents the subscription from renewing again at the next cycle.
- Note the charge amount and date. Locate the transaction in your billing history and record the exact charge amount and the date it was processed. You will need this information when you contact support.
- Act quickly. Refund eligibility is time-sensitive. Contacting our team as soon as possible after the charge is processed gives us the best opportunity to review and approve your request.
- Contact support via live chat. Open the chat widget and request a refund review (see the section below for details).
💰 Refund Eligibility Guidelines
Search Atlas evaluates refund requests on a case-by-case basis. While we cannot guarantee a refund in every situation, the following factors are considered during the review:
- Time since charge: Requests submitted promptly after the renewal date are more likely to be approved.
- Platform usage after renewal: Significant use of the platform following the renewal date may affect eligibility.
- Duplicate or erroneous charges: If a technical issue caused a duplicate charge or an incorrect amount was billed, these are prioritised for immediate resolution.
- Promotional subscription terms: Some special-offer or challenge subscriptions carry specific refund terms that were disclosed at checkout. Our team will clarify these during your review.
If a refund is approved, it is typically returned to the original payment method within 5–10 business days, depending on your card issuer or payment provider.
🛠️ How to Cancel Your Subscription
If you decide you no longer wish to use Search Atlas, you can cancel your subscription at any time from within the platform:
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Click your Profile avatar and select Billing.
- Open the Services section.
- Click the ⋮ (three-dot) menu on your plan and choose Cancel.
- Review the confirmation/retention step, then confirm the cancellation.
Cancelling your subscription stops future renewals. You will retain access to the platform until the end of the current paid period, rather than losing access immediately. If you change your mind, you can reverse a pending cancellation from the same place by clicking Activate.
🔍 Check for Duplicate Subscriptions
In rare cases, a technical issue during checkout may have created more than one active subscription on your account. If you believe you have been charged twice or see multiple active plans under Billing > Services, contact support immediately. Our team can identify duplicate subscriptions, cancel the extras, and process a refund for any duplicate charges.
💬 Contact Support
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.
When you reach out, please have the following ready to speed up your review:
- The date and amount of the charge in question.
- The email address associated with your Search Atlas account.
- A brief description of why you believe the charge was unexpected.