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Why Was My Credit Card Charged for Microsoft 365 & How to Fix It
Question details
The user is inquiring about an unexpected or unauthorized charge of USD 79.99 from Microsoft 365 on their credit card statement.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing credit card statements and noticing an unrecognized subscription renewal fee labeled as MICROSOFT*MICROSOFT 365 P.
- Observed behavior
- A credit card was charged USD 79.99 without the cardholder's explicit permission or advance notification.
Before reaching out to support, locate your exact credit card statement details and ensure you have access to the Microsoft account email address potentially linked to this charge.
Contact Microsoft Support to Manage Your Subscription
Because billing details are strictly private, you must contact Microsoft Support directly to investigate the unrecognized charge, turn off auto-renewal, or request a refund.
A $79.99 charge typically represents the annual auto-renewal fee for a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. This often happens automatically if a one-month free trial expires without being canceled.
Go to the official Microsoft Support website in your web browser and sign in using your Microsoft account.
Click on 'Microsoft 365 and Office' from the list of available products on the support homepage.
Choose 'Manage My Subscription' from the support topics, or type 'unrecognized charge' into the search bar.
Follow the on-screen prompts to request a live support chat or a callback from a Microsoft agent so they can privately review your billing details and process a potential refund.
Switch to WPS Office and Avoid Unexpected Subscription Fees
Tired of sudden auto-renewal charges and expensive annual fees for Office software? WPS Office is a highly compatible, completely free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft 365 that won't surprise you with hidden credit card charges.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer for your specific operating system.
- 2. Install the software: Run the installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install WPS Office on your device in minutes.
- 3. Open existing files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund for an accidental Microsoft 365 auto-renewal?
Yes, Microsoft often issues full refunds if you request a cancellation within 30 days of the automatic renewal charge being processed. You must contact their customer support or use the Services & subscriptions dashboard to request it.
Why did Microsoft charge me if I only signed up for a free trial?
Microsoft requires a credit card to activate the 30-day free trial. If you do not manually cancel the trial before the 30-day period ends, the system automatically converts it into a paid yearly subscription and charges your card.
How do I turn off recurring billing for Microsoft 365?
Log in to your Microsoft account online, navigate to 'Services & subscriptions', locate your active Microsoft 365 subscription, click 'Manage', and select the option to 'Turn off recurring billing'.
