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How to cancel Rentbeforeowning: step-by-step guide for malaysian users

What is Rentbeforeowning and how it charges you

Rentbeforeowning positions itself as a membership platform offering property listings and search tools, not direct property rentals or purchases. If you signed up expecting direct rent-to-own property access, you are paying instead for platform membership that gives you visibility into listings and search features during your subscription term.

How the subscription model works

You start with a 7-day trial at USD 1.00 (approximately RM4.70). After exactly 7 days from your registration date and time, your card gets charged USD 49.60 (approximately RM233.12) for the first full month. The monthly charge then repeats every 30 days unless you cancel before the renewal date.

Alternatively, some users select the 3-month upfront option at USD 99.00 (approximately RM465.30), which gives you three months of access without automatic monthly renewals. However, you must manually re-register if you want to extend beyond that initial 3-month term.

The critical detail here: this is an auto-renewing subscription. If you do not cancel during the trial period or before your next renewal date, your payment method will be charged again automatically.

What you are actually paying for

Many Malaysian users report signing up expecting direct access to rent-to-own properties, only to discover the service offers membership access to listings and property search tools. The features you receive include searchable property databases, member-level visibility of listings, and access to the platform for the duration of your subscription.

This distinction matters critically when you decide whether to cancel during the trial. If the listings do not match your expectations or the platform does not deliver what you need, you have a small window to exit before the larger monthly charge hits your account.

Pricing and currency charges for malaysia

Rentbeforeowning publishes all prices in US dollars, not Malaysian ringgit. When you pay from Malaysia, your bank converts the USD amount at its own exchange rate and often adds a foreign transaction fee (typically 1.5% to 3%). This means the charge on your bank statement can be slightly higher than the USD-to-MYR conversion shown above.

For example, a USD 49.60 charge might appear as RM234 to RM236 on your statement after conversion and fees, depending on your bank's rates on that specific date.

Your consumer rights when cancelling Rentbeforeowning

Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999 gives you specific protections when cancelling subscription services, and understanding these rights empowers you to push back if Rentbeforeowning refuses to process your cancellation or refund.

Statutory cooling-off period in malaysia

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, you have a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel distance contracts (which includes online subscriptions). This means if you signed up via the website and did not physically attend a shop, you can cancel within 10 calendar days and request a refund, even if the trial period is still active.

The 10-day window starts from the date you receive confirmation of your subscription, not from the date you signed up. Keep your welcome email as proof of when this period began.

Rights if Rentbeforeowning delays or refuses cancellation

If the company ignores your cancellation request or continues charging you after you cancel, you have grounds to escalate to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDNHEP), which enforces consumer protection laws in Malaysia. You can file a complaint through their online portal at KPDNHEP official website.

Document everything: your cancellation email, the date you sent it, screenshots of your account, and bank statements showing unwanted charges. This evidence becomes vital if you need to lodge a formal complaint.

Methods to cancel Rentbeforeowning

Rentbeforeowning operates only from a US address in California with no local Malaysian office, meaning all cancellations must route through their US-based contact methods.

Contact form cancellation (recommended)

The most reliable method is the online contact form on their website. This creates a dated record of your cancellation request and is harder for the company to ignore than a phone call.

1. Visit rentbeforeowning.com/contact-us.html
2. Fill in the form with your:
   • Full name
   • Email address used for the account
   • Account registration date
   • Last four digits of the payment method
3. In the message field, write clearly: "I request immediate cancellation of my Rentbeforeowning membership effective today. Please confirm cancellation in writing and ensure no further charges occur."
4. Submit the form
5. Take a screenshot of the submission confirmation
6. Monitor your email for a response (expect 2-3 business days; remember they operate in Pacific Time, so responses may arrive outside Malaysia business hours)

Pro tip: Send the form during their business hours (Pacific Time Zone). If you submit on a Friday evening in Malaysia, your request may not be seen until Monday US time, which could cut into your cancellation window if you are near your renewal date.

Email cancellation (alternative method)

If the contact form is unavailable, you can also send a direct email. However, this method is less trackable, so use it only as a backup.

1. Look for their support email address on the rentbeforeowning.com website (usually support@ or contact@)
2. Send an email with the subject: "Cancellation Request - Account [Your Email]"
3. Include the same details listed above (account email, registration date, last four digits of payment method)
4. Request written confirmation of cancellation
5. Keep the sent email and any reply for your records

Warning: Email can get lost or misfiled. If you do not receive a response within 3 business days, follow up with a second email or escalate to the contact form method instead.

Phone cancellation (use with caution)

Rentbeforeowning lists a US phone number on their website. You can attempt to call, but expect time zone challenges and potentially higher costs depending on your phone plan's international rates.

1. Find their phone number on the website
2. Calculate the time difference (Malaysia is UTC+8; Pacific Time varies between UTC-8 and UTC-7 depending on daylight saving)
3. Call during their published business hours in Pacific Time
4. Have your account details ready: email, registration date, last four digits of payment method
5. Ask the agent to confirm cancellation in writing via email immediately after the call
6. Do not rely solely on a verbal cancellation; insist on email confirmation

Pro tip: Use a free or low-cost calling app like WhatsApp, Viber, or Skype if available rather than direct international dialling to reduce costs. Alternatively, ask them to call you back if they offer that service.

Step-by-step guide to cancelling during your trial period

If you want to cancel before your first full month charge of USD 49.60 hits your account, timing and documentation are everything.

Immediate actions to take

The moment you decide to cancel, take these steps to protect yourself:

1. Log into your Rentbeforeowning account (if you still have access)
2. Screenshot your account dashboard or profile page showing your membership status and registration date
3. Take a screenshot of any upcoming charge or renewal date listed in your account settings
4. Check your email for the original welcome or confirmation message; save it
5. Open your bank app and check whether any charge is listed as pending for the next 7 days
6. Compose your cancellation message (see template below)

Cancellation message template

Use this template to ensure you include all necessary details and clearly state your intent. Copy and paste it into the contact form or email:

I request the immediate cancellation of my Rentbeforeowning membership. Account email: [your email]. Registration date: [DD/MM/YYYY and time if known]. Last four card digits: [XXXX]. I understand the 10-day cooling-off period under Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999 applies to this distance contract. Please confirm cancellation in writing and ensure no further charges are processed. Thank you.

7. Send the cancellation request using the contact form or email
8. Save the confirmation page or email receipt showing your request was submitted
9. Note the date and time you submitted the cancellation
10. Wait for a response (typically 2-3 business days)
11. Check your email regularly, including spam and promotions folders

Warning: Do not assume silence means acceptance. If you do not receive written confirmation of cancellation within 5 business days, send a follow-up message. Time zone delays mean responses may arrive 12-24 hours later than expected.

What happens after you submit your cancellation

Cancelling is one thing; making sure it actually sticks is another, and many users feel anxious about what happens in the days following their request.

Monitoring your account and bank statement

After you cancel, stay vigilant for the next 10-14 days to ensure no unexpected charges appear.

1. Log back into your Rentbeforeowning account daily (if access is still available) to check your membership status; it should change from "Active" to "Cancelled"
2. Check your bank or credit card app every 2-3 days for any pending or posted charges
3. Look specifically for charges in USD that match USD 49.60 (approximately RM233-236) or any other amount
4. If a charge does appear after your cancellation request, take a screenshot immediately and note the date
5. Do not delete any emails from Rentbeforeowning, your bank, or support responses

Pro tip: Set a phone reminder for 5 days after your cancellation request as a checkpoint. By then, you should have received written confirmation from Rentbeforeowning. If you have not, send a follow-up enquiry.

If your account remains active despite cancellation

Sometimes the company's system lags, or your cancellation request gets misfiled. If your account still shows "Active" a week after you cancelled, escalate immediately.

1. Send a second email or contact form message referencing your original cancellation request (include the date you submitted it)
2. State that your account still shows as active and you want immediate action
3. Request they provide written proof of cancellation or explain why it was not processed
4. Keep a record of this follow-up message

Refunds and chargebacks explained

Whether you can recover money depends on when you cancelled and whether a charge already hit your account.

Trial period refunds (7-day window)

If you cancel within the 7-day trial period before the USD 49.60 charge is due, Rentbeforeowning should not charge you at all. You will only lose the initial USD 1.00 trial fee unless you qualify for a refund under the 10-day cooling-off period (see below).

Check your bank statement. If you see no USD 49.60 charge within 10 days of cancellation, the cancellation worked.

Cooling-off refunds under malaysian law

If you cancel within 10 calendar days of receiving your subscription confirmation (not signup date), you can request a full refund including the trial fee under the Consumer Protection Act 1999. This is your statutory right, regardless of whether the company has a refund policy.

Send a follow-up message to Rentbeforeowning stating: "I am exercising my cooling-off right under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (Section 4) and request a full refund of USD [amount] within 14 days."

Chargebacks if the company ignores you

If Rentbeforeowning continues charging after you cancel or refuses to refund, you can initiate a chargeback through your bank. Contact your bank's dispute or fraud team and explain:

• You requested cancellation in writing on [date]
• The company charged you again on [date] despite your cancellation
• You have evidence of the cancellation request (email, contact form confirmation)
• You want to dispute the charge and request a refund

Your bank will then contact Rentbeforeowning directly to dispute the charge. This process typically takes 10-30 days, but it is your most powerful tool if the company ignores you.

Common mistakes malaysian users make when cancelling

Cancelling a subscription sounds simple, but small missteps can leave you exposed to unwanted charges and frustrating delays, so it is worth knowing where others have gone wrong.

Waiting too long into the trial period

Many users assume they have the full 7 days to cancel. In reality, Rentbeforeowning charges exactly 7 days after signup at the same time of day you registered. If you signed up at 2:00 PM on Monday, your charge hits at 2:00 PM the following Monday, not at midnight.

If you wait until day 7 to cancel, you risk your cancellation request arriving after the charge has already posted. Cancel on day 2 or 3 of your trial instead, giving yourself a safety buffer.

Relying on verbal confirmations only

If you spoke to someone on the phone, a verbal "yes, you are cancelled" is not proof. The company can later claim the agent made a mistake or that your account was never flagged for cancellation. Always insist on written confirmation via email, even after a phone call.

Ignoring the time zone problem

Malaysia is 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time (US West Coast). When you submit a cancellation at 10:00 PM Malaysia time on a Monday, it arrives during business hours Sunday morning in California. If you need urgent action, check when the company's business hours align with your timezone and submit during overlap times if possible.

Assuming account access loss means cancellation

Some users lose login access to their Rentbeforeowning account and assume this means the subscription is cancelled. It does not. Your account can be locked while the subscription remains active and billable. Always send an explicit cancellation request.

Not saving proof documents

If a dispute arises months later, your memory of "I think I cancelled in March" will not help. Screenshots, emails, and bank statements are your only evidence. Keep these documents for at least 6 months after cancellation.

Checklist: before and after cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you cover every step and protect yourself from missed charges or forgotten details.

When to escalate to stopee and consumer authorities

Stopee helps thousands of Malaysian consumers navigate complex cancellations every month, and some situations require expert support or official intervention.

Red flags that mean you need backup

Escalate if you experience any of these:

• No response to your cancellation request after 7 business days
• A charge appears on your bank statement after you cancelled
• The company denies receiving your cancellation request despite proof
• Your account still shows as "Active" 10 days after cancellation
• A refund was promised but never received after 14 days
• Multiple charges appear without explanation

How to file a complaint with KPDNHEP

If Rentbeforeowning continues to ignore you, lodge a formal complaint with Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.

1. Visit kpdnhep.gov.my and locate their consumer complaint portal
2. Gather your evidence: cancellation emails, bank statements, screenshots, proof of your requests
3. File a detailed complaint including dates, amounts, and what action you want (refund, account cancellation)
4. The ministry will contact the company on your behalf and demand a response
5. This process typically takes 30-60 days but carries legal weight

Pro tip: Stopee can help you draft a formal complaint letter and guide you through the KPDNHEP process if needed. Our team understands both consumer protection law and subscription company tactics, so we know which evidence matters most and how to present it persuasively.

Rentbeforeowning contact information and address

Since Rentbeforeowning has no Malaysian office, all contact routes go through their US headquarters in California.

Given the lack of local presence, expect response times of 2-5 business days and be prepared for timezone delays when communicating.

Final summary: take control of your cancellation

Cancelling Rentbeforeowning is manageable if you act fast, document everything, and use the right channel. The contact form is your most reliable route; email or phone work as backups. You have legal protections under Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999, including a 10-day cooling-off period and the right to file complaints with KPDNHEP if the company refuses to cooperate.

Do not assume silence means acceptance. Follow up within 5 days if you have not received written confirmation. Monitor your bank statement closely for 10-14 days after cancellation to catch any unwanted charges before they become disputed claims.

If Rentbeforeowning ignores you or continues charging despite your cancellation, you have two escalation paths: a chargeback through your bank (immediate) or a formal complaint to KPDNHEP (official but slower). Both have worked for consumers in similar situations.

Stopee has helped thousands of Malaysian consumers cancel problematic subscriptions and recover refunds, and we understand the frustration of being ignored by overseas companies. If you encounter resistance from Rentbeforeowning, do not hesitate to reach out for guidance. Stopee can help you draft stronger follow-up messages, advise on chargeback procedures, and ensure you understand your rights under Malaysian consumer law. Take action today, and do not let this subscription drain your account another month.