PureVPN Auto-Renewed without Notice - Charged Higher for Less. What Should I Do?

Ladpcbr on 04/06/2025 - 19:21

Back in early 2023, I bought a PureVPN plan through a ShopBack deal that was posted here on OzBargain. It was a one-off payment for a long-term plan (about 2 years and 3 months). There was no mention of auto-renewal anywhere during signup or in the welcome emails.

Recently, without any warning or notification, PureVPN auto-renewed my subscription for just 1 year — and charged me over 50% more than what I paid originally. They also added an extra service (PureKeep) that I never knowingly agreed to.

I never received a renewal reminder or any email saying I’d be charged. I only found out after money was deducted.

I raised a dispute with PayPal and submitted:

Original invoice (no auto-renewal mentioned)
Inbox screenshot (no reminder sent)
Welcome email (no billing terms)

The new invoice showing the price jump and shorter duration

But PayPal rejected the case, saying the transaction was processed correctly.

Has anyone else had a similar issue with PureVPN or PayPal?

What are my options now?

Can I report this to any consumer authority in Australia?

Appreciate any advice. I genuinely feel this was misleading and unfair, and I’m sure others may have faced the same thing.

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Comments

  • Hybroid on 04/06/2025 - 19:23

    Seems like a common thing: https://www.reddit.com/r/PureVPNcom/comments/1hnd5on/purevpn…

    As they're not an Aus-based business, there's no consumer protection. You can still report it, it'll just be filed away.

    • adpcbr on 04/06/2025 - 19:34

      I couldn’t cancel it either — PureVPN never sent a renewal reminder or notification. I paid using PayPal because I genuinely believed I'd be notified before any transaction, and that their buyer protection would help in case of issues like this.

      Given how common this seems, I think moderators should consider whether PureVPN or such VPN deals should continue to be allowed here. The lack of transparency and user consent makes it feel more like a trap than a legitimate offer.

      • Hybroid on 04/06/2025 - 19:41
        +2

        I mean you chose to route your traffic through a random provider in the Virgin Isles founded by someone based in Pakistan and didn't remove your payment details. Lack of transparency is part of the package. On top of that the too-good cashback offers designed to attract and trap people in.

        Since Paypal rejected the appeal, the only thing you can do now is go to Automatic Payments and make sure PureVPN (and any others) are removed so they cannot charge you ever again.

        https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/autopay/

        • adpcbr on 04/06/2025 - 19:47

          Yeah, fair point - I definitely overlooked the risks at the time. The deal looked too good to pass up. Clearly, that was naive on my part.

          I’ve removed the automatic payment now (thanks for the link), but my PayPal account is showing a negative balance since the linked card was closed. No idea what happens next - whether they’ll chase me, restrict my account, or just write it off.

  • Guybrush57 on 04/06/2025 - 19:32
    +2

    Same thing happened to me with NordVPN last year except I knew it was going to auto-renew and I intended to cancel it before it auto-renewed but they auto-renewed it a hefty 14 days prior to expiry.

    • drick on 05/06/2025 - 20:58
      +1

      yep, Nord got me too. i'd swear i turned off the auto-renew (because I do that with all subscriptions) but it renewed and when I went into my setting, it was switched on again.

      • Guybrush57 on 06/06/2025 - 21:49

        I hope you tried cancelling after that. I tried and they offered 18 months free which was still a bad deal compared to the almost 100% cash back deals often posted here but it did help soften the blow.

  • jv on 04/06/2025 - 19:45
    +4

    There was no mention of auto-renewal anywhere during signup or in the welcome emails.

    It was likely in the T&Cs that you agreed to when you signed up.

    • adpcbr on 04/06/2025 - 20:53

      True, maybe it was buried in the T&Cs - but there was no mention on the billing arrangement, and no renewal reminder either. The renewal was almost double the price for less than half the duration of the original signup - looks like they’ve inflation-adjusted their traps too.

      • jv on 04/06/2025 - 20:54
        +1

        I remember reading it somewhere for NordVPN and put a reminder in my calendar to cancel 1 month before.

        Usually when you cancel, they offer you a pretty good discount to continue too…

        • Guybrush57 on 04/06/2025 - 21:20

          Do you read T&Cs for everything or do you catch wind of unethical clauses from others?

          • jv on 04/06/2025 - 21:45
            +1

            @Guybrush57:

            Do you read T&Cs for everything

            With subscriptions, yes…

            • Guybrush57 on 04/06/2025 - 21:49
              +1

              @jv: I admire your perseverance.

  • thatonethere on 04/06/2025 - 19:48
    +1

    if you have documentation that proves your case, take it to AFCA and they may force/recommend Paypal refund you (as an act of goodwill). Note Paypal may cancel your account.

  • Fredfloresjr on 04/06/2025 - 20:01
    +2

    Set a reminder next time. Enjoy your new subscription

  • MeesusEff on 04/06/2025 - 20:06

    Thanks for reminding me to check, i forgot to set reminders to cancel, but in 4 years my cc's would be expired anyway. Does anyone know if they press cancel subscription whether the account gets cancelled or if you get to use it til the last date of expiry?

    • jv on 04/06/2025 - 20:56
      +2

      my cc's would be expired anyway.

      Most recurring payments would still process onto your current card unless you closed the account.

  • DingoBilly on 04/06/2025 - 20:41

    I usually find this is user error not the company's fault.

    At some point you ticked an auto renewal box and/or forgot to check the cancellation terms and conditions.

    It's annoying on the company's part but it really is on you for not actually paying attention to the contract you're agreeing to.

    • jv on 04/06/2025 - 20:57
      +1

      There's also often an option to turn off auto-renew.

  • Malik Nasser on 04/06/2025 - 21:18
    +1

    I have nothing to add for this specific case, however I would suggest you go into your PayPal account and disable all automatic payments and merchants that you no longer use (or don't want to be automatically debited).

  • Markusaus on 04/06/2025 - 21:19

    I have never used the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) but it a government body that should be able.

    Separately if your paypal is linked to a credit card, then just raise a dispute with them separately. I’ve needed to do this before and won.

    Possibly AFCA will have a helpline and you can ask their advice on raising a dispute with the cc issuer.

    I had a lifetime purevpn account once. Its stopped working but I am still alive. They are hopeless to deal with, so good luck.

    • adpcbr on 04/06/2025 - 22:18
      +1

      Thanks - yes, I’ll be raising a case with AFCA. The frustrating part is that the associated card had a zero balance, but PayPal still processed the renewal and put my account into negative balance. I assumed they wouldn’t allow that without available funds.

  • Waffles on 05/06/2025 - 08:41
    +1

    Did you contact PureVPN and ask them to cancel it and refund the money? I did that with another VPN in a similar situation…

  • trankillity on 05/06/2025 - 08:54
    +1

    That sucks, but it's also the reason that I learned to always put my own reminders in. Especially easy with the snooze feature of most email clients.

  • drick on 05/06/2025 - 21:00
    +3

    You may not get your money back but they lost a few customers now with your post.

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