Cancellation service n°1 in United Kingdom
CV Wizard is a popular online CV building platform that helps job seekers in the UK create professional-looking CVs without needing design skills or expensive software. The service operates on a subscription model, offering various templates, formatting tools, and guidance to help users craft compelling CVs that stand out to employers. Thousands of UK residents use CV Wizard each month when they're actively job hunting, making it one of the more recognisable names in the online CV creation space.
The platform works by guiding users through a step-by-step process where you input your personal details, work history, education, and skills. The system then formats this information into professionally designed templates that you can customise with different colours, fonts, and layouts. You can download your finished CV as a PDF or Word document, and the service also allows you to create multiple versions tailored to different job applications.
What makes CV Wizard appealing initially is how quickly you can produce a polished-looking CV. Instead of wrestling with Word document formatting or paying a professional CV writer hundreds of pounds, you can have a professional-looking document ready in under an hour. The platform includes pre-written phrases and suggestions for different industries, which can be particularly helpful if you're struggling to describe your achievements in compelling terms.
However, here's what catches many people out: CV Wizard requires a paid subscription to download your completed CV. You can start building your CV for free, but when you're ready to download it, you'll need to sign up for a paid plan. This is where many users find themselves locked into a subscription they only needed temporarily. Once you've secured your new job, that monthly payment becomes an unnecessary expense, which is precisely why so many people seek to cancel their membership.
CV Wizard operates on a subscription-based pricing model that's designed to capture users when they're most motivated to download their CV. Understanding these pricing structures is important because it affects how you approach cancellation and what charges you might still face after requesting termination.
| Plan Type | Duration | Typical Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Day Trial | 2 weeks | £1.95-£2.95 | Full access, converts to monthly |
| Monthly Plan | 1 month | £14.95-£19.95 | Unlimited downloads, all templates |
| Quarterly Plan | 3 months | £29.95-£39.95 | Better value per month |
| Annual Plan | 12 months | £59.95-£79.95 | Lowest monthly rate |
Most importantly, be aware that the trial period is the biggest trap. That £1.95 trial seems like a bargain when you desperately need to download your CV for a job application deadline, but it automatically converts to a full-price monthly subscription unless you cancel. I've processed countless cancellation requests from people who forgot about that trial and suddenly found £19.95 leaving their account three months later.
The features you get with CV Wizard include access to their full template library, which typically includes 15-30 different designs ranging from traditional to modern styles. You can create multiple CVs, which is useful if you're applying to different industries. The platform also offers a cover letter builder, though this is often less sophisticated than the CV builder itself. Some plans include additional features like LinkedIn profile optimisation tips or interview preparation guides, though these vary depending on promotional offers at the time of sign-up.
Keep in mind that once you've downloaded your CV, you technically don't need ongoing access unless you're planning to make updates. This is why timing your cancellation is crucial. Download all the versions you need, save them securely on your own computer and cloud storage, and then proceed with cancellation before the next billing cycle begins.
Understanding CV Wizard's terms of service is absolutely essential before you start the cancellation process. Like most subscription services, they have specific requirements about how and when you can cancel, and missing these details can result in additional unwanted charges.
When you sign up for CV Wizard, you're entering into a contract that automatically renews. This means your subscription continues indefinitely until you actively cancel it. The company doesn't send reminder emails before charging you again, which is perfectly legal but catches many users off guard. The subscription renews on the same date each month, quarter, or year, depending on which plan you selected.
Additionally, CV Wizard's terms typically state that you must cancel before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another period. If you cancel on the day before your renewal, you should be fine, but if you cancel on the actual renewal date, you might still be charged for another full period. This is why I always recommend cancelling at least 5-7 working days before your renewal date to account for postal delays.
Most importantly, understand that CV Wizard generally does not offer refunds for partial months or periods. If you're three weeks into a monthly subscription and you cancel, you won't receive a refund for that unused week. Your access typically continues until the end of your current paid period, but you won't be charged again after that.
However, there's an important exception under UK consumer law. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give you a 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases. If you signed up within the last 14 days and haven't extensively used the service, you may be entitled to a full refund. This right doesn't apply if you've already downloaded your CV and used the service as intended, but it's worth knowing about if you signed up by mistake or immediately changed your mind.
Under UK law, companies must make it reasonably easy for you to cancel subscriptions. While CV Wizard may prefer you cancel through their website, they are legally required to accept cancellation requests by post. This is actually one of the most reliable methods because you have proof of your cancellation request through Royal Mail's tracking system.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 also protects you from unfair contract terms. If CV Wizard makes it unreasonably difficult to cancel or continues charging you after you've properly submitted a cancellation request, you have legal recourse. Keep all documentation, including your postal receipt and any responses from the company, as this creates an evidence trail if you need to dispute charges with your bank or card provider.
Sending a cancellation letter by post is the most reliable method for terminating your CV Wizard subscription. While online cancellation might seem more convenient, postal cancellation creates an undeniable paper trail that protects you legally. Here's exactly how to do it properly.
First, let me explain why I recommend postal cancellation over other methods. When you cancel by post using Recorded Delivery or Signed For service, you receive proof that your letter was delivered and when. This is crucial if CV Wizard claims they never received your cancellation request and tries to charge you for another period. I've seen countless cases where users clicked "cancel" on a website only to find the request wasn't processed due to technical errors, expired sessions, or unclear confirmation messages.
Additionally, a physical letter creates a formal record that's taken more seriously by customer service departments. Companies can claim emails went to spam or online forms malfunctioned, but they cannot deny receiving a tracked letter. The Royal Mail tracking number provides independent third-party verification that your cancellation was delivered, which is invaluable if you need to dispute charges with your bank.
Next, postal cancellation protects you under consumer law more clearly. The act of sending a formal written notice demonstrates your clear intention to cancel and creates a timestamp that's legally meaningful. If you need to escalate a complaint to your bank's chargeback department or to a consumer protection agency, that postal receipt becomes powerful evidence.
Before you draft your cancellation letter, collect all relevant information about your subscription. You'll need your full name exactly as it appears on your account, the email address you used to register, your account number or customer ID if you have one, and details about your current subscription plan. Check your most recent payment confirmation email or bank statement to find these details.
Most importantly, identify your next billing date. This is critical because you need to ensure your cancellation letter arrives well before this date. I recommend sending your letter at least 7-10 working days before your renewal date to account for postal delivery times and processing delays. If your renewal date is in three days, you're cutting it too close, and you might still be charged for another period.
Keep in mind that you should also take screenshots of your account dashboard showing your subscription details, billing history, and any relevant terms and conditions. While you won't send these with your letter, they're useful to have if you need to dispute anything later.
Your cancellation letter needs to be clear, concise, and include all essential information. Start with your full name and contact details at the top, followed by the date you're writing the letter. Then include CV Wizard's postal address, which I'll provide shortly.
In the body of your letter, state clearly and unambiguously that you wish to cancel your subscription. Include your account email address, any customer reference numbers, and specify that you want the cancellation to take effect immediately or from the end of your current billing period, whichever you prefer. Request written confirmation of your cancellation and ask them to confirm the date when charges will cease.
Additionally, mention that you're sending the letter by Recorded Delivery or Signed For service and that you expect acknowledgement within 10 working days. This creates a reasonable deadline and shows you're serious about the cancellation. Keep the tone polite but firm, and avoid lengthy explanations about why you're cancelling unless you're seeking a refund under the 14-day cooling-off period.
This is the most critical part of the entire process. You must send your cancellation letter to the correct address, or it won't reach the right department. Based on CV Wizard's UK operations, here is the postal address you need:
Write this address clearly on your envelope, and double-check every line before posting. An incorrectly addressed letter will be delayed or returned, which could mean you miss your cancellation deadline and get charged for another period.
Never send your cancellation letter by regular post. Always use Royal Mail Signed For or Recorded Delivery service. These services cost a few pounds extra but provide tracking and proof of delivery, which is absolutely worth it when you're trying to stop recurring charges that could total much more.
Signed For 1st Class typically costs around £2.50 and arrives next working day with signature confirmation. Recorded Delivery offers similar tracking with a signature required upon delivery. Both services give you a tracking number that you can monitor online, and the signature record proves exactly when CV Wizard received your letter.
Keep your proof of postage receipt in a safe place. Take a photo of it with your phone and save it digitally as well. This receipt, combined with the tracking information showing successful delivery, is your insurance policy if CV Wizard claims they never received your cancellation.
If you want to make this process even easier, Postclic offers a service specifically designed for sending formal cancellation letters. Instead of finding an envelope, writing out addresses, and visiting the post office, Postclic handles everything digitally. You provide your cancellation details through their platform, and they print, envelope, and send your letter using tracked postal services.
The main advantage is convenience and professional formatting. Postclic ensures your letter includes all necessary information, addresses it correctly, and sends it with tracking automatically. You receive digital proof of postage and delivery notifications, all without leaving your home. This is particularly useful if you work full-time and struggle to get to the post office during opening hours, or if you're not confident about writing formal business letters.
Additionally, Postclic maintains records of your cancellation correspondence, which can be helpful if you need to reference it months later during a billing dispute. The service typically costs less than £5, which is comparable to what you'd spend on an envelope, stamp, and Signed For service at the post office, but with significantly less hassle.
Once you've posted your letter, track its delivery using your Royal Mail tracking number. Most Signed For letters arrive within 1-2 working days. Once the tracking shows "delivered," make a note of the delivery date and time. This is when your official cancellation notice period begins.
Next, wait for confirmation from CV Wizard. Reputable companies should acknowledge your cancellation within 5-10 working days. This confirmation might come by email or post. If you don't receive confirmation within two weeks, send a follow-up letter referencing your original cancellation request and including the date it was delivered.
Most importantly, monitor your bank account or credit card statements. Check that no further payments are taken after your cancellation should take effect. If you are charged after your cancellation date, contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge. Provide them with your postal receipt, tracking information, and delivery confirmation as evidence that you properly cancelled the subscription.
Don't send your letter too close to your renewal date. Postal services and processing times mean you need at least a week's buffer. Sending a cancellation letter the day before your subscription renews is almost certainly too late, and you'll be charged for another period.
Don't forget to keep copies of everything. Photocopy or photograph your cancellation letter before posting it, and keep your postal receipt and tracking information. I've seen too many cases where people sent cancellation letters but had no proof when the company claimed they never received it.
Don't assume silence means success. If you don't receive confirmation of your cancellation, chase it up. Companies sometimes ignore cancellation requests hoping you'll forget about it, or letters occasionally go astray within large organisations. Be persistent and keep following up until you receive written confirmation.
Understanding why others cancel can help you avoid similar frustrations. The most common reason is simply that people no longer need the service. You signed up to create a CV for job applications, you secured a new job, and now you're paying monthly for something you're not using. This is perfectly normal, and there's no reason to continue paying for a service you don't need.
Additionally, many users cancel because they discovered free alternatives that meet their needs just as well. Services like Canva, Google Docs templates, or even Microsoft Word's built-in CV templates can produce professional-looking CVs without ongoing subscription costs. Once you've learned what makes a good CV by using CV Wizard, you might feel confident creating your own from scratch.
Another frequent reason is the forgotten trial subscription. You signed up for the £1.95 trial, downloaded your CV, forgot to cancel, and suddenly discovered you've been paying £19.95 monthly for six months without realising. This happens more often than you'd think, especially if you used a card you don't check regularly or if the charges appear under an unfamiliar company name on your statement.
Former CV Wizard subscribers consistently say they wish they'd known to download multiple versions of their CV before cancelling. Once your subscription ends, you lose access to your saved CVs on the platform. If you need to update your CV later, you'll either need to recreate it from scratch or resubscribe. Before cancelling, download your CV in multiple formats including PDF and Word document, and save several different versions tailored to different types of jobs.
Most importantly, people wish they'd set a calendar reminder for their trial end date. If you're signing up for a trial, immediately put a reminder in your phone or calendar for 3-4 days before the trial ends. This gives you time to decide whether you want to continue and, if not, to send your cancellation letter with enough time for it to be processed.
Keep in mind that many former members recommend screenshotting or printing their completed CV while still logged in. Sometimes downloaded files can have formatting issues or missing elements. Having a screenshot ensures you have a backup reference of exactly how your CV looked on the platform, which you can use to recreate it elsewhere if needed.
Once you've cancelled, you probably want to avoid needing to resubscribe in the future. The key is maintaining your CV as an ongoing document rather than something you only update when job hunting. Keep a master CV document on your computer and update it whenever you complete a significant project, gain a new skill, or achieve something noteworthy at work. This makes it much easier to tailor your CV for specific applications without needing a subscription service.
Additionally, learn the basic principles of good CV design so you can create professional-looking documents yourself. Your CV needs clear section headings, consistent formatting, appropriate use of white space, and a readable font. These principles are straightforward once you understand them, and they'll serve you throughout your career without requiring subscription services.
Some users report that CV Wizard or similar services sometimes respond to cancellation requests with retention offers, such as discounted rates or extended free access. Whether you accept these offers depends on whether you genuinely need ongoing access to the service. If you've already downloaded your CV and secured a job, there's little reason to continue even at a reduced rate.
However, if you're still actively job hunting and regularly updating your CV, a significantly discounted rate might be worth considering. Just be aware that these discounted offers are usually temporary, and the price will eventually increase back to the standard rate. If you accept a retention offer, set another calendar reminder for when that promotional period ends so you can cancel again if needed.
Beyond cancelling properly, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself. Consider using virtual card numbers for subscription services. Many banks now offer this feature, where you create a temporary card number linked to your main account. If a company tries to charge you after you've cancelled, you can simply delete that virtual card number, preventing any further charges.
Next, regularly review your bank and credit card statements for subscription charges. Set aside 15 minutes each month to go through every transaction and identify any subscriptions you're no longer using. It's easy to accumulate multiple small subscriptions that individually seem insignificant but collectively cost hundreds of pounds annually.
Most importantly, if CV Wizard continues charging you after you've properly cancelled, don't hesitate to dispute the charges with your bank. Under UK banking rules, you can request a chargeback for unauthorised transactions. Provide your bank with your postal receipt, tracking information, and delivery confirmation. Banks take these disputes seriously, and having proper documentation makes it much more likely you'll receive a refund.
Former CV Wizard members often share their successful alternatives. Many have found that investing in a one-time professional CV review service provides better long-term value than an ongoing subscription. You pay a professional CV writer £50-£150 for a comprehensive review and rewrite, then you own that CV outright and can update it yourself going forward.
Additionally, many former subscribers recommend using free design tools like Canva, which offers numerous free CV templates that look just as professional as paid services. The learning curve is slightly steeper than CV Wizard's guided process, but once you've created one CV in Canva, you'll find it easy to update and modify without any ongoing costs.
Keep in mind that your local library, job centre, or university careers service often provides free CV assistance. If you're struggling to create a professional CV without a subscription service, these free resources can provide guidance and feedback without any cost. Many people don't realise these services exist until after they've spent money on subscription platforms.
People who've successfully cancelled CV Wizard subscriptions emphasise the importance of acting decisively. Once you've decided you no longer need the service, cancel immediately rather than thinking "I'll do it next month." Those delays cost you money, and there's rarely any benefit to postponing cancellation if you're not actively using the service.
Document everything throughout the cancellation process. Keep emails, take screenshots, save postal receipts, and maintain a simple timeline of when you sent your cancellation, when it was delivered, and when you received confirmation. This documentation takes minimal effort but provides maximum protection if anything goes wrong.
Most importantly, don't feel guilty about cancelling. Subscription services are designed to make signing up easy and cancelling just difficult enough that many people don't bother. You're not being unreasonable by cancelling a service you no longer need. Companies budget for cancellations, and exercising your right to terminate a subscription is a normal part of consumer behaviour. Follow the proper process, keep your documentation, and move forward knowing you've handled it correctly.