Navigating Subscription Cancellations in the UAE: What Are Your Rights?
If you have ever cancelled a subscription only to find your card still being billed, you are likely wondering about your legal standing. Under UAE Civil Transactions Law, your subscription should officially terminate once you follow the agreed-upon cancellation process. While some contracts include notice periods or minimum commitments that might influence the final billing date, any charges applied after the service has been formally ended without a contractual basis are essentially invalid. According to Article 237 of the Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025, when a contract is terminated, the parties should be restored to their original positions; if a company continues to take money without authorization, you are legally entitled to request a full refund.
To resolve these unauthorized charges, start by contacting the service provider directly with proof of your cancellation, such as confirmation emails or chat transcripts. If the company is unresponsive, you can escalate the issue by filing a formal dispute through your bank or the institution that issued your credit or debit card. While there is no single fixed timeframe for how long a company can charge you after a cancellation notice—as this depends on the specific terms you initially signed—the absence of a legal or contractual basis makes those subsequent charges disputable. Always ensure you have your documentation ready to support your claim for a reversal of these payments.