Cancellation service N°1 in Australia
Contract number:
To the attention of:
Cancellation Department – Hotmail
Level 27, 1 Denison Street
2060 North Sydney
Subject: Contract Cancellation – Certified Email Notification
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby notify you of my decision to terminate contract number relating to the Hotmail 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,
15/01/2026
How to Cancel Hotmail: Complete Guide
What is Hotmail
Hotmail is the legacy name for Microsoft’s long-standing free webmail service that has been incorporated into Outlook.com and into Microsoft’s broader subscription ecosystem. Historically launched in 1996, Hotmail addresses (for example @hotmail.com) remain active under the Outlook.com platform while premium features are bundled with Microsoft 365 subscription plans that provide additional storage, applications and security features.
Microsoft sells consumer subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and higher tiers; these plans set billing cycles, storage allowances and feature sets that affect email storage and access for Hotmail/outlook addresses. The official Microsoft Australia site lists current retail plans and prices for the consumer tiers.
Customer experiences with cancellation
What users report
Public feedback collected from local news outlets, community forums and product-review sites shows a mix of outcomes. Several customers said the renewal and pricing communications were confusing after Microsoft introduced AI-enabled Copilot features, and some reported difficulty obtaining refunds or encountering incorrect links when attempting to change plans or access redress.
Other reports highlight predictable effects when subscriptions end: immediate loss of premium benefits, reduced cloud storage limits and potential service disruption for mailbox attachments where usage exceeds free quotas. Microsoft’s own guidance warns that storage allowances revert and email access may be restricted if quotas are exceeded after subscription changes.
Recurring issues and practical takeaways
Users frequently point to three recurring themes: unclear pricing communications at renewal, problems with links or processes used to obtain refunds, and uncertainty about downstream effects on OneDrive and Outlook storage after a paid plan ends. These account-level consequences often cause the most practical harm to users who have large mailboxes or shared family subscriptions.
Practically, feedback shows value in early preparation: identify billing dates, understand storage quotas and have an evidence trail ready if you later seek a refund or dispute a charge. Many consumers who reported success in obtaining refunds relied on documented proof of billing and clear records of communications.
How cancellations typically work for Hotmail subscriptions
Framework: Microsoft consumer subscriptions are recurring contracts that generally renew automatically at the stated billing frequency unless a subscriber exercises their right to stop renewal. These contracts set out renewal mechanics, eligibility for refunds and consequences of termination for storage and access.
Billing cycles and proration: Plans are offered monthly or annual and renew at the published retail rate. Proration policies vary by plan and by the channel used to purchase the subscription; some renewals are charged in full for the next period and proration on mid-period changes is not always provided. Microsoft’s published terms note that subscriptions renew automatically at the regular price unless stopped.
Cooling-off and change-of-mind: There is no universal statutory 14-day cooling-off right for digital subscriptions in all circumstances; digital content and ongoing services are treated differently under consumer law. Refunds for change-of-mind remain a contractual matter unless the supply is non-conforming under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Consumers should distinguish between refund rights arising from contract terms and rights arising from consumer guarantees under the ACL.
Refund windows and eligibility: Microsoft’s published guidance states specific refund and storage consequences for Microsoft 365 plans and sets out timelines and limits for certain remedies. Where refunds are available, eligibility depends on the purchase channel, the timing of the request relative to the renewal and whether the subscription was used beyond permitted allowances.
Consequences for accounts and data: Cancelling or changing a paid plan can trigger a reduction in OneDrive and Outlook.com storage allowances. If usage exceeds new free quotas, new uploads may be blocked and email send/receive functionality can be affected; long-term noncompliance can lead to deletion of OneDrive content after stated retention windows. Microsoft’s support pages document these outcomes.
Relevant legal concepts
Misleading or deceptive conduct: Under the ACL, representations about pricing or available options must be accurate. The ACCC has investigated communications around Microsoft’s 2024/2025 price and feature changes, highlighting the legal risk where cheaper alternatives exist but are not clearly disclosed.
Consumer guarantees: Digital services must conform to reasonable expectations of functionality and availability. If a paid email or cloud service fails to provide the contracted features, remedies may include repair, replacement, refund or compensation under statutory guarantees.
Automatic renewal fairness: The ACL focuses on transparency and fairness of auto-renewal terms; clauses that create a significant imbalance or obscure options may attract regulatory scrutiny. Businesses must make critical information clear at the point of renewal.
Documentation checklist
- Billing records: retain invoices and transaction IDs for each renewal period.
- Plan terms: keep a copy or screenshot of the plan description and price in force at purchase.
- Usage logs: export mailbox size and OneDrive usage snapshots around the time of change.
- Refund communications: preserve any written confirmations or notice of refund eligibility.
- Dates and timestamps: note exact renewal dates, payment dates and when service changes occurred.
Subscription plans and pricing
| Plan | Billing | Retail price (AU) |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | Monthly / annual | A$16.00/month or A$159.00/year |
| Microsoft 365 Family | Monthly / annual | A$18.00/month or A$179.00/year |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | Monthly / annual | A$33.00/month or A$329.00/year (promotional rates may apply) |
These prices are Microsoft’s listed consumer retail rates and are subject to promotional or regional variation. Automatic renewal at the regular price is the default position stated for these subscriptions.
Plan feature comparison
| Feature | Personal | Family | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud storage | 1 TB | Up to 6 TB (1 TB per user) | Up to 6 TB (1 TB per user) |
| AI assistant (Copilot) | Included in Copilot-enabled plan | Included in Copilot-enabled plan | Included with expanded features |
| Device installs | Up to 5 devices | Up to 5 devices per person (up to 6 people) | Up to 5 devices per person (up to 6 people) |
| Impact on cancellation | Storage reverts; reduced mail and OneDrive quotas | All users lose shared benefits if subscription ends | Same as above |
Address
- Address: Level 27, 1 Denison Street North Sydney NSW 2060
Disputes, refunds and chargebacks
When a charge is disputed, remedies depend on the purchase channel and applicable law. Under the ACL, a non-conforming supply can give rise to remedies including refund. Where problems relate to misleading communications about available plans, regulators may require redress or refunds. Recent regulatory action and public statements have focused on transparency at renewal and refund offers made by Microsoft in response to those concerns.
Bank and card scheme chargebacks are a separate commercial route to recover funds for unauthorised or disputed charges; time limits and eligibility are set by financial institutions and card networks. If considering a dispute, preserve documentary evidence that supports the consumer position, including dates and plan descriptions.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Unclear renewal notices: check the effective renewal date and the published price for the next period well before renewal.
- Storage surprise: if mailbox or OneDrive usage is near or above free quotas, expect service limitations when premium features end.
- Shared subscription risk: family plans pass consequences to all members; confirm who loses access before altering shared plans.
- Documentation gaps: lack of invoices or timestamps weakens any later claim for redress.
What to Do After Cancelling Hotmail
Monitor billing statements closely for subsequent charges and retain all transaction records for at least 12 months. If you believe you are entitled to a refund under contract terms or consumer law, prepare a concise record of the charge, the applicable plan terms and evidence of the loss or change in service.
Backup important mailbox data and OneDrive files immediately to a separate location so that data loss risk from quota reductions or account changes is minimised. Check storage usage reports and export key items such as contacts and calendar entries as part of a preservation step.
If you intend to seek a remedy under the consumer guarantees, assemble the documentation checklist above and note precise dates of renewal and service change; statutory remedies may require prompt and specific evidence. Consider the appropriate regulator or dispute avenue if communications are unclear or if redress is withheld.
Finally, keep a record of any notifications you receive regarding plan changes or refunds and note any stated timeframes for processing. Acting promptly and maintaining a clear paper trail materially improves the prospects of successful resolution where billing or plan-change disputes arise.