Can't Remember Subscription Details? How to Investigate
Forgot where or when you subscribed? Here's how to gather the information you need to resolve subscription issues.
What Is This Problem?
Insufficient Information means you're being charged but don't remember key details: where you subscribed (website vs app), whether it was a trial, or if you received cancellation confirmation. Without this info, it's hard to take the right action.
Why Does This Happen?
Common reasons: (1) Subscription from months/years ago, (2) Multiple services look similar on credit card statements, (3) Family member signed up using your payment method, (4) Old email address you don't check anymore.
How Common Is This?
About 5-10% of subscription inquiries. Usually happens with older subscriptions or seldom-used services.
Real Examples
“Linda sees "$9.99 SVCS*STREAMING" on her card but can't remember which of 3 streaming services it might be.”
“Robert thinks he canceled his VPN 6 months ago but isn't sure - he doesn't have the confirmation email.”
How to Fix This (Right Now)
- 1Check your credit card statement - note the exact charge name and date
- 2Search your email for: the service name, "subscription", "receipt", the charge amount
- 3Check all email accounts (don't forget old ones)
- 4Look in spam/trash folders - subscription emails often get filtered
- 5Google the exact charge description from your credit card
- 6Check both App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android) subscriptions
- 7Ask family members if they recognize the charge
Follow-Up Steps
- Once you identify the service, go to the specific guide for that service
- Contact your credit card company if you genuinely can't identify the charge
- Consider using a subscription tracking app (Truebill, Bobby, etc.) going forward
How to Prevent This in the Future
- Save all subscription confirmation emails in a dedicated folder
- Keep a simple list of all subscriptions (spreadsheet or notes app)
- Review your credit card statement monthly
- Use subscription management apps that alert you to charges
- Use unique email aliases for each service (service@yourdomain.com) for easy tracking