Cancellation service N°1 in United States
Contract number:
To the attention of:
Cancellation Department – Academia
580 California Street No. 400
94104 San Francisco
Subject: Contract Cancellation – Certified Email Notification
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby notify you of my decision to terminate contract number relating to the Academia service. This notification constitutes a firm, clear and unequivocal intention to cancel the contract, effective at the earliest possible date or in accordance with the applicable contractual notice period.
I kindly request that you take all necessary measures to:
– cease all billing from the effective date of cancellation;
– confirm in writing the proper receipt of this request;
– and, where applicable, send me the final statement or balance confirmation.
This cancellation is sent to you by certified email. The sending, timestamping and integrity of the content are established, making it equivalent proof meeting the requirements of electronic evidence. You therefore have all the necessary elements to process this cancellation properly, in accordance with the applicable principles regarding written notification and contractual freedom.
In accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and data protection regulations, I also request that you:
– delete all my personal data not necessary for your legal or accounting obligations;
– close any associated personal account;
– and confirm to me the effective deletion of data in accordance with applicable rights regarding privacy protection.
I retain a complete copy of this notification as well as proof of sending.
Yours sincerely,
11/01/2026
How to Cancel Academia: Complete Guide
What is Academia
Academia is a research-sharing platform and social network for academics that offers a free base service and a paid tier called Academia Premium. The platform hosts millions of papers and provides discovery tools, profile analytics and features that are reserved for Premium subscribers such as advanced full-text search, enhanced analytics, profile visitor data, PDF packs and "mentions" alerts. The Premium tier is presented as a suite of tools for authors and researchers who want more visibility and insight into who reads their work.
Academia documents the scope of Premium benefits and the mechanics of subscription billing on its support pages. The company describes options such as installment billing for annual subscriptions and makes clear that cancelling auto-renewal normally prevents future charges but does not automatically produce a refund or end existing access during the paid period.
Subscription plans and pricing overview
Public pricing on the site may vary by market and promotional offer. Historic published figures and user reports show a common pattern: an advertised low-cost monthly or annual entry price (for example a US$9/month or US$99/year reference in older announcements) that has been changed frequently in recent years. Where the vendor lists specific billing amounts to a user they may appear in the user's billing currency rather than on a public price table. Because public AU prices are not consistently published, the table below uses plan-type categories and notes; where older USD amounts are reported, an approximate AUD conversion is provided for orientation only. Use the table to compare plan types rather than rely on exact amounts.
| Plan type | Typical billing cadence | Indicative AU price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory/trial | One month trial or promotional | Varies | Often presented as a low-cost trial; terms and renewals vary by promotion. |
| Monthly Premium | Monthly | Varies | Short-term access with automatic renewals; monthly rate fluctuates by offer. |
| Annual Premium | Annual (sometimes billed in 2 instalments) | Approx A$148/year (if quoted historically as US$99) | Installment billing examples appear in support documentation; actual AU amount may differ. Exchange rate used for the example was the mid-market USD-AUD rate in early January 2026. |
| Institutional or volume | Varies | Varies | Enterprise or group arrangements are handled separately; not publicly standardised. |
Subscription features comparison
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Full-text advanced search | Limited | Included |
| Enhanced analytics | Basic | Detailed analytics and readers |
| Profile visitor details | Not shown | Shown (university, title, location) |
| PDF packs | Not available | Included |
| Mentions and alerts | Limited | Included |
How cancellations typically work for Academia subscriptions
Cancelling or disabling auto-renewal and other subscription controls are intended to stop future billings while allowing current paid access to continue until the end of the current billing period. Academia's own guidance emphasises that turning off auto-renewal does not automatically trigger a refund or immediate removal of benefits; users commonly retain Premium access until their paid period ends. Installment-billed annual subscriptions may continue to collect the remaining instalments that fall within the current subscription period.
Proration and immediate refunds are not guaranteed. The vendor states that cancellation prevents future renewals but will not refund the active subscription in most cases. Exceptions or discretionary refunds have been reported by users, but these are not presented as standard policy. Plans billed in instalments may continue to collect scheduled instalment payments even after auto-renew is disabled.
Customer experience with cancellation
What users report
Public reviews and forum discussions show a pattern of recurring complaint types. Many reviewers report unexpected renewal charges, price increases at renewal without clear advance notice, and cases where a cancellation attempt appeared to complete but the charge still occurred. Some users report that refunds were refused or that refunds were only obtained after escalating disputes with card issuers. These observations are supported by multiple review platforms and forum threads.
Representative paraphrased feedback from users includes: "I cancelled but was still billed at renewal," "the renewal amount jumped with little or no warning," and "support responses were automated and unhelpful; a chargeback was the only route to get money back." Trustpilot and Reddit threads document these kinds of experiences repeatedly.
Recurring issues and practical takeaways
Recurring issues seen in community reports include: unclear notice of price changes, confusing cancellation flows where cancellation requires multiple confirmations, and disputes over whether a cancellation actually completed. Some users report success obtaining refunds only after filing chargebacks with their card issuer or after regulatory complaints.
Practical takeaways drawn from these reports: keep precise records of billing dates, screenshots and receipts; check whether your subscription is billed in instalments; watch for advance notice of price changes; and be prepared to escalate to your card provider or consumer regulator if the charge is disputed. Below are more specific documents and actions to prepare.
Short note on consumer rights and applicable protections
Under consumer protection frameworks, digital subscriptions and services must meet consumer guarantees and fair trading rules. For example, regulators have taken action against subscription practices that mislead customers about renewals and price increases. This means that if Premium features were not supplied as promised or billing practices were misleading, there may be grounds for dispute and remedies under consumer law. Use regulator guidance to frame any formal complaint.
Documentation checklist
- Proof of purchase: keep receipts, order references and card/transaction entries.
- Billing timeline: record dates of sign-up, trial end, renewal and any price-change notices.
- Communication log: note dates and content of any messages from the vendor or your support requests; keep copies of any replies.
- Evidence of cancellation attempts: timestamps, screenshots and confirmation messages that show the action taken.
- Usage evidence: if disputing a charge, document whether Premium features were used after the charge.
- Bank/statement extracts: highlight the transaction(s) you plan to dispute.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Assuming cancellation equals refund: disabling auto-renew typically prevents future charges but does not automatically refund an active subscription.
- Not watching renewal dates: price and policy changes may be communicated close to renewal; set reminders well before the billed date.
- Missing final confirmation: some cancellation flows require a final confirmation step; retain confirmation evidence.
- Ignoring instalment terms: if your annual plan is billed in instalments, stopping auto-renew may not stop outstanding instalments within the billing period.
- Delaying dispute: many card issuers and regulators have time limits for disputes; start the process promptly if you believe a charge was unauthorised or incorrect.
Options if a renewal charge appears after you believe you cancelled
Do a careful review of your documentation to confirm whether the charge matches the subscription terms and dates you were shown at sign-up. If the charge appears inconsistent with the vendor's stated policy or with consumer guarantees, consider raising the issue with your payment provider and seek regulator guidance. Public reports indicate some users only recovered funds after a formal dispute with their card issuer.
Regulatory agencies have pursued cases where subscription practices were misleading; these cases demonstrate that enforcement action can lead to refunds and remedies for affected customers in some circumstances. If you believe a systemic issue exists, consider a formal complaint to your local consumer regulator as part of escalation.
Address
- Address: 580 California Street No. 400, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
What to do after cancelling Academia
After you have taken steps to end future billing, monitor your card and bank statements for at least two billing cycles and keep all records of the cancellation attempt and any confirmations. If an unexpected charge appears, gather the documentation above and consider a payment dispute with your issuer while you simultaneously lodge a complaint with the appropriate consumer protection authority.
If you lodge a dispute or a regulator complaint, present a clear timeline and attach evidence: receipts, screenshots, the vendor policy excerpt that applied to your purchase, and your communications. This helps both financial institutions and regulators assess the case promptly. Recent enforcement actions against other subscription services show regulators will investigate recurring or misleading subscription practices.
Finally, consider adjusting stored payment methods or subscription authorisations where appropriate, and keep an eye on future notices from the service about price changes or policy updates. Acting quickly and keeping clear records gives you the strongest position if a dispute becomes necessary.