Manage Starapps

How to cancel starapps in new zealand and reclaim your money

What starapps is and why you might need to cancel

Starapps (marketed as StarApps Studio) is a cloud-based app-building subscription service that lets you create and manage mobile applications without deep coding knowledge. You access the platform through a web browser or mobile app, and the service charges you on a recurring basis until you cancel.

The provider advertises a "cancel anytime" approach with a 14-day free trial for new users, which sounds reassuring. However, New Zealand consumers often find that cancelling is harder than signing up, especially when charges continue after you intended to stop. If you're here, you likely want clarity on how to cancel cleanly and whether you're eligible for a refund.

At Stopee, we've helped thousands of New Zealand consumers navigate subscription cancellations, and Starapps is no exception. Understanding your options and your legal rights puts the power back in your hands.

How starapps bills you

Starapps subscriptions are sold through three different channels, and your cancellation method depends on where you paid:

• Direct web purchase (StarApps Studio website) using a credit or debit card
• Apple App Store (billed through your Apple account)
• PayPal (if you linked your PayPal account during purchase)

Each channel has its own billing system and cancellation process. This matters because if you cancel in the wrong place, you might think you've stopped the subscription when charges continue elsewhere.

Why cancellation matters in new zealand

Under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, you have rights when you purchase digital services. If Starapps fails to deliver what was promised, or if you're charged without clear consent, you can claim a refund or replacement. Stopee recommends documenting every charge and cancellation attempt, because evidence is your strongest tool if you need to escalate.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

Before you cancel, understand what protections you have as a consumer in Aotearoa.

Consumer guarantees act protections

The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 gives you the right to expect that any service you pay for is of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and delivered safely. If Starapps doesn't deliver on these promises, you can request a refund, repair, or replacement within a reasonable time.

Additionally, if you purchased through Apple App Store or PayPal, those platforms have their own refund windows (typically 14-15 days). This is separate from what Starapps itself offers, and you can use either route if the first fails.

Cooling-off and distance-selling rules

If you purchased Starapps online (which you did), you have a 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Rights Act (implied into distance contracts). This means you can cancel and request a full refund within 14 days of purchase, even if the service is working perfectly, as long as you haven't substantially used it.

After 14 days, your right to a refund depends on whether the service matches the description, or whether Starapps's own refund policy allows it. Stopee always advises keeping your purchase confirmation email and all correspondence as proof of your cancellation request.

Cancellation methods: where to cancel based on how you paid

Your next steps depend entirely on which payment method you used when you signed up for Starapps.

Cancel a direct web purchase (Starapps website)

If you paid directly on the StarApps Studio website using your credit or debit card, follow these steps to request cancellation:

1. Go to the StarApps contact page at https://www.starapps.io/contact-us (opens in a new window)
   • Use a browser on your computer for clarity and to screenshot the form
   • Have your email address and order details ready
2. Fill out the support form with your request
   • Write clearly: "I wish to cancel my Starapps subscription effective immediately"
   • Include your registered email and the date you first signed up
   • If this is within 14 days of purchase, mention you're requesting a refund under the cooling-off period
3. Submit and save the confirmation page or email you receive
   • Screenshot it for your records
   • Note the date and time you submitted
4. Wait for a response from Starapps support
   • They should reply within 3-5 business days
   • Ask them to confirm the cancellation date and whether a refund will be processed
5. Check your account after 48 hours
   • Log in to your Starapps account and verify the subscription status shows "cancelled"
   • Check that no new charges appear on your bank statement

Pro tip: If you don't get a response within 5 business days, follow up with another email and copy in the phrase "under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act". This signals you know your rights and makes support take you more seriously.

Cancel via apple app store

If you downloaded Starapps from the Apple App Store and subscribed through Apple, you cancel directly in your Apple settings, not through Starapps itself:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
   • On iPhone or iPad: tap your profile picture at the top right
   • On Mac: click your name in System Settings
2. Tap or click "Subscriptions"
   • You'll see all active and paused subscriptions here
3. Find and select "Starapps" or "StarApps Studio" from the list
4. Tap "Cancel Subscription"
   • Apple will show you the cancellation date and any remaining access time
   • Confirm the cancellation
5. Verify the status changed to "Cancelled"
   • It should show "Expires [date]" instead of "Renews [date]"

Warning: Don't delete the Starapps app from your device - this does not cancel the subscription. You must use the Subscriptions menu in Settings.

Pro tip: Apple gives you up to 15 days to request a refund for App Store purchases. If Starapps didn't work or you changed your mind, go to the App Store app, tap your profile, select "Purchases", find Starapps, tap the three dots, and select "Report a Problem". Request a refund and explain why.

Cancel via PayPal

If you linked your PayPal account to Starapps and have PayPal manage the subscription, cancel through PayPal itself:

1. Log in to your PayPal account at https://www.paypal.com
   • Use a secure connection and never share your password
2. Click "Settings" (gear icon) in the top right
3. Select "Payments" or "Wallet"
4. Look for "Manage Automatic Payments" or "Subscriptions"
   • This section lists all active recurring payments
5. Find the Starapps subscription and click on it
6. Select "Cancel" and confirm
   • PayPal will show the cancellation date
7. Screenshot the confirmation for your records

Pro tip: PayPal keeps a detailed transaction history. Save a screenshot of the cancelled subscription status and the original payment receipts. This evidence is gold if you later need to prove to Starapps (or Stopee, if you're escalating) that you cancelled.

What happens to your access after you cancel

Cancelling doesn't mean instant loss of access - and understanding the timeline matters for your workflow and refund eligibility.

Access until the end of your billing period

When you cancel Starapps, you typically keep access until the end of your current billing cycle. For example, if you're charged on the 15th of each month and you cancel on the 20th, you'll keep access until the 14th of the following month (unless Starapps states otherwise).

After that date, Starapps will disable your login and you lose access to all projects and tools. If this is urgent, contact Starapps support and ask them to confirm the exact date your access ends.

No future charges after cancellation

The moment your cancellation is confirmed, Starapps stops billing you. No new charges should appear after the end of your current billing period. However, Stopee advises checking your bank statement or payment method (Apple, PayPal) for 30 days after cancellation, just to catch any errant charges.

If a charge appears after your cancellation confirmation, contact Starapps immediately and ask for a refund. If they refuse, escalate to your payment provider (your bank, Apple, or PayPal) and file a dispute.

Free trial cancellation

If you cancel during the 14-day free trial and no charge has yet been applied, your access ends immediately when the cancellation is processed. You won't be billed at all, and there's no refund to claim because no money changed hands.

Refund eligibility and how to claim one

Cancelling and getting a refund are two different things - and your refund depends on timing, your payment method, and Starapps's discretionary policy.

Starapps's own refund policy

According to Starapps's published terms, the company offers discretionary refunds in these situations:

• Full refund if you were charged after you cancelled but before the cancellation took effect
• Full refund if you are unhappy after trying the service for a few months
• Prorated refunds for unused months or service downtime

These refunds are not automatic or guaranteed - they're discretionary. This means Starapps decides on a case-by-case basis. However, in New Zealand, the Consumer Guarantees Act overrides discretionary policies if the service didn't meet your reasonable expectations.

Statutory refund rights (New zealand law)

You have a legal right to a refund within 14 days of purchase if you're exercising your cooling-off right under distance-selling rules, or if Starapps breached the Consumer Guarantees Act (poor quality, unfit for purpose, etc.). This right exists even if Starapps's terms say "no refunds".

Keep evidence: screenshots of charges, access issues, features that didn't work, and all cancellation correspondence. Stopee has seen many cases where consumers won refunds by simply presenting this evidence to the company or escalating to a payment provider dispute.

Refunds by payment method

Important: Apple and PayPal are your strongest allies. If Starapps refuses to refund you, go directly to Apple or PayPal and explain the situation. They often reverse charges without needing Starapps's permission.

How to request a refund from starapps

1. Contact Starapps support via https://www.starapps.io/contact-us
   • Write a clear subject line: "Refund request for Starapps subscription"
2. Include these details in your message:
   • Your registered email address
   • The date you first subscribed
   • The date you cancelled (or intended to cancel)
   • The total amount charged
   • The reason for your refund request (e.g., "cooling-off period", "service not fit for purpose", "charged after cancellation")
3. Attach screenshots or copies of:
   • Your charge receipts
   • The subscription cancellation confirmation (if you have one)
   • Any bank or card statements showing the charges
4. Wait for a response (usually 5-10 business days)
5. If Starapps refuses or ignores you, escalate to your payment provider (see next section)

Escalation: file a dispute with your payment provider

If Starapps doesn't refund you, don't accept it. Your payment provider has the power to reverse the charge:

• Apple: Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, select the transaction, and request a refund. Explain the issue clearly.
• PayPal: Log in, go to Resolution Centre, and open a dispute. PayPal will investigate and typically sides with consumers if the merchant won't refund.
• Your bank or credit card company: Call or log into your account, report the charge as unauthorized or disputed, and initiate a chargeback. Your bank will investigate and usually reverse the charge within 30-60 days.

Stopee recommends always starting with your payment provider if the merchant refuses. You'll get your money back faster, and the merchant loses the dispute, which encourages them to honour refunds next time.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

We understand cancelling a subscription feels tedious and frustrating - and scammers know this, which is why many companies deliberately make cancellation hard. Here are the traps Stopee sees every week:

Assuming deletion equals cancellation

Deleting the Starapps app or closing your browser tab does nothing. The subscription keeps renewing, and charges keep coming. You must actively cancel through the method you used to subscribe.

Cancelling in the wrong place

If you subscribed via Apple App Store, cancelling on the Starapps website won't work - Apple still owns the billing relationship. You must cancel in Apple Settings. The same applies to PayPal. Stopee has seen customers cancel in two places and still get charged because they missed the original payment channel.

Not saving confirmation

Always screenshot or save the cancellation confirmation page. If a charge appears later and you have no proof you cancelled, the company will claim you never requested it. Your screenshot is your evidence.

Missing the 14-day refund window

If you cancel after 14 days, your refund options shrink. Always cancel as soon as you decide you don't want the service. Within 14 days, you have the strongest legal claim under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Not following up

If Starapps doesn't respond to your cancellation request within 5 business days, send a follow-up email. Mention the Consumer Guarantees Act and ask for a specific cancellation date in writing. This pushes them to take you seriously.

Comparison: starapps versus similar app-building services

If you're considering alternatives after cancelling Starapps, here's how it stacks up:

Pro tip: When evaluating a new subscription, check the cancellation ease before you commit. Stopee always recommends choosing services with one-click cancellation and a clear refund policy - because if you ever need to leave, the exit will be painless.

Checklist: ensure your starapps cancellation is complete

Before you consider yourself done, work through this checklist:

• Tick this box: I have identified which payment method I used (direct card, Apple, or PayPal)
• Tick this box: I have submitted a cancellation request via the correct channel
• Tick this box: I have saved a screenshot or confirmation number of my cancellation request
• Tick this box: I have received a response from support confirming the cancellation date
• Tick this box: I have checked my account login and confirmed the subscription status shows "cancelled"
• Tick this box: I have monitored my bank statement or payment method for 30 days and found no new charges
• Tick this box: If a refund was promised, I have received it within 10 business days
• Tick this box: If a refund was refused, I have filed a dispute with my payment provider

Once all eight boxes are ticked, your cancellation is complete and you can move on.

Contact details and escalation

Here's where you can reach Starapps and escalate if they don't cooperate:

Starapps customer support

Website contact form: https://www.starapps.io/contact-us

Postal address (for formal written complaints):

StarApps Studio
Belgium

Note: The only address found for Starapps is in Belgium, not New Zealand. This may mean customer support is overseas and slower to respond. Stopee recommends using a payment provider dispute (Apple, PayPal, or your bank) as your faster escalation route if Starapps doesn't respond within 5 business days.

New zealand consumer escalation

If Starapps refuses to honour your cancellation or refund rights:

• Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz): File a complaint if Starapps engaged in misleading or deceptive practices (e.g., making cancellation deliberately hard).
• Disputes Tribunal (disputestribunal.govt.nz): File a claim for disputes under NZ$20,000. This is free and doesn't require a lawyer.
• Your payment provider's dispute centre: Apple, PayPal, or your bank can reverse charges on your behalf - often the fastest way to get your money back.

Summary: your path forward

Cancelling Starapps is straightforward once you know where to cancel and what rights you have. Start with the correct cancellation method based on your payment channel, request a refund if you're within 14 days or if the service failed to meet your expectations, and escalate to your payment provider or the Commerce Commission if Starapps resists.

You're not powerless here. Stopee has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers recover money from subscriptions they didn't want, and your situation is winnable if you follow the steps above and keep your evidence. Stopee's goal is to put the power back in your hands - and every successful cancellation is one less hidden charge draining your account.

Take action today. Your refund is waiting.