Manage Starz

How to cancel starz in new zealand and understand your rights

What starz is and how it works in new zealand

Starz (also marketed as Lionsgate+) is a subscription streaming service that gives you access to films, TV series and original programming. You can watch content via the Starz app or website, though availability varies by region and platform.

In New Zealand, you can subscribe directly to Starz or through a third-party distributor like the Apple App Store, Google Play, or your TV provider. Your subscription method matters because it determines where and how you cancel. At Stopee, we help thousands of New Zealand consumers navigate these exact distinctions every month.

Direct subscriptions vs. distributor subscriptions

If you subscribed directly through the Starz website, you manage your account and billing with Starz. If you subscribed via an app store or TV provider, that platform handles your billing and cancellation instead. Starz cannot override a distributor's billing or cancellation policies, so you must cancel through the platform where you signed up.

Content access and billing cycles

Your access to Starz content depends on your subscription status and how you paid. Monthly subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel before the billing date. Annual subscriptions lock you in for 12 months. Understanding your billing cycle is crucial before you cancel, and Stopee's guides help you identify exactly when your next charge will happen.

Your consumer rights when cancelling starz

New Zealand consumer law gives you important protections when you subscribe to digital services like Starz.

The consumer guarantees act and fair trading act

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, Starz must provide its service with due care and skill. The service must be fit for purpose and match any descriptions or promises made during marketing. If Starz fails to meet these guarantees, you have grounds to demand a refund or replacement, regardless of what the company's standard terms say.

The Fair Trading Act also prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct. If Starz charged you misleadingly, failed to disclose cancellation terms clearly, or made false claims about content availability, you can lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission.

Your 14-day statutory cancellation right

New Zealand consumer law also grants you a 14-day cancellation right for distance contracts (services purchased online or by phone). This means you can cancel your Starz subscription within 14 days of purchase and get a full refund, provided you have not started streaming content.

Important: Once you start watching content, you may lose this right unless Starz explicitly obtained your consent to proceed before the 14-day period ended. Check Starz's terms carefully to see whether they ask you to acknowledge this loss before you play your first video.

Starz pricing and plans in new zealand

Starz offers flexible subscription tiers, though exact pricing in New Zealand varies by platform and current promotions.

Pricing table for new zealand subscribers

Pricing varies because Starz adjusts costs for promotions and regional availability. Before you cancel, check your latest invoice or billing statement to confirm your exact plan and price. Stopee recommends taking a screenshot of your billing details so you have proof of what you paid if a refund dispute arises.

Should you cancel starz?

Cancelling makes sense if the service no longer meets your needs. Consider these factors.

Reasons to cancel starz

• You have finished watching the shows you subscribed for.
• Content you wanted is no longer available or has been removed.
• You are using another streaming service instead and want to reduce costs.
• You signed up on a trial and forgot to cancel before the paid period started.
• You dispute a charge or believe Starz failed to deliver on its promises.
• You are concerned about automatic renewal and accidental charges.

Reasons to keep your subscription

• You regularly watch Starz original series and films.
• Content you love is exclusive to Starz and not available elsewhere.
• You bundled Starz with another service and the total cost offers good value.
• You are within a promotional period or discounted rate that ends after cancellation.

How to cancel starz in new zealand

The cancellation method depends on whether you subscribed directly to Starz or through a third-party distributor. Follow the correct path for your situation to avoid delays or failed cancellations.

Cancel a direct starz subscription (web or app)

If you subscribed directly through the Starz website or app, use this method to cancel your account.

1. Open the Starz or Lionsgate+ app or go to starz.com in your web browser.
2. Log in with your email address and password.
3. Tap or click the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) and select Settings or Account.
4. Look for Subscription, Manage subscription, or Billing.
5. Select Cancel subscription or Cancel your membership.
6. Read the confirmation message carefully to see your final access date.
7. Confirm the cancellation by tapping or clicking the final confirmation button.
8. Keep a screenshot or email confirmation of your cancellation for your records.

Pro tip: Starz typically allows you to keep watching until the end of your current paid billing period, even after you cancel. If your billing date is 15 January, you retain access until 14 January, then lose it at midnight.

Cancel a starz subscription via apple app store

If you subscribed through Apple's App Store on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, cancel through Apple's subscription settings.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top, then select Subscriptions.
3. Find Starz or Lionsgate+ in the list.
4. Tap it and select Cancel subscription.
5. Choose your reason (optional) and confirm.

On a Mac, open the App Store, click your account icon in the top right, select Subscriptions, find Starz, and click Edit then Cancel.

Warning: Starz cannot override Apple's billing or cancellation. If you contact Starz support to cancel an App Store subscription, they will redirect you to Apple. Cancel directly through Apple to avoid delays.

Cancel a starz subscription via google play

If you subscribed through Google Play on an Android phone or tablet, cancel through Google Play's settings.

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right.
3. Select Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
4. Tap Starz or Lionsgate+.
5. Tap Cancel subscription and confirm your choice.

Pro tip: Google Play sends you a confirmation email within minutes. Check your inbox to confirm the cancellation went through.

Cancel via other distributors (TV providers and other platforms)

If you subscribed through a TV provider, pay-TV operator, or another third-party platform, contact that distributor's customer service to cancel. Starz has no control over these accounts, so the distributor's cancellation process applies.

• Contact your TV provider's customer service line or log into your provider's account portal.
• Navigate to your subscriptions or add-ons section.
• Find Starz and select cancel or remove.
• Confirm the cancellation and note the effective date.

What happens after you cancel starz

Cancellation takes effect immediately, but your access does not. Understanding the timeline helps you avoid surprises.

Your access period after cancellation

When you cancel a direct subscription, you retain full access until the end of your current paid billing period. If your next charge date is 20 February, you can watch Starz content until 19 February at 11:59 pm. At midnight on 20 February, your access ends and you cannot log in.

If you subscribed via a distributor, the access period follows the same rule: you keep access until your current paid period expires.

Automatic renewal stops

After you cancel, Starz will not charge your payment method again. No renewal bills, no surprise charges, no hidden fees. Your account remains in Starz's system, but marked as cancelled. Starz may retain your account data for legal or operational reasons, though you can contact Starz support to request deletion under New Zealand privacy laws.

Reactivating your subscription later

If you cancel and later change your mind, you can resubscribe to Starz at any time. Your saved preferences, watchlist, and viewing history may still exist if Starz has retained your account. Log in with the same email and password to check. If you used a distributor, resubscribe through that same platform.

Will you get a refund from starz?

Starz's standard policy does not include refunds, credits, or prorated refunds after cancellation. However, New Zealand consumer law provides exceptions.

Starz's no-refund policy

According to Starz's standard terms, once you purchase a subscription, you cannot receive a refund or credit for unused time. If you cancel on the first day of your monthly billing cycle, you lose access to 29 days of unused service with no refund. This applies to both direct and distributor subscriptions.

When you are entitled to a refund under new zealand law

Despite Starz's no-refund policy, New Zealand consumer law overrides unfair contract terms. You have a right to a refund in these situations:

• 14-day statutory right: If you cancelled within 14 days of purchase and had not started streaming, you can demand a full refund.
• Service failure: If Starz failed to provide the service with due care, or the service was not fit for purpose (for example, if content was not available as promised, or the app constantly crashed), you can seek a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
• Misleading conduct: If Starz misled you about cancellation terms, charges, or content availability, you can claim a refund under the Fair Trading Act.
• Billing error: If you were charged twice, charged the wrong amount, or charged after you cancelled, Starz must refund the incorrect amount.

Pro tip: If Starz refuses a refund you believe you are entitled to under New Zealand law, escalate your complaint to the Commerce Commission or contact Stopee for guidance on your next steps. Many consumers recover refunds by citing the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them

Cancelling can feel stressful, especially if you are worried about being charged again. We understand that frustration, and we have seen the mistakes that cost people money.

Mistake 1: cancelling in the starz app but still getting charged

If you subscribed via Apple App Store or Google Play, cancelling in the Starz app does nothing. You must cancel through Apple or Google's subscription settings, not the Starz app itself. Many people believe they cancelled after tapping "cancel" in Starz, then receive a surprise charge because they did not use the correct method.

Mistake 2: cancelling just after your billing date

If you cancel on the day after your subscription renews, you have already been charged for the next period and will lose access to most of that month or year with no refund. Cancel a few days before your renewal date if you want to avoid paying for the next period.

Mistake 3: not keeping a cancellation confirmation

If Starz charges you again or claims your cancellation did not go through, a confirmation screenshot or email from Starz or your distributor protects you. Without proof, Starz may argue the cancellation failed and refuse to refund the disputed charge. Take a screenshot immediately after you cancel.

Mistake 4: ignoring the access end date

Cancellation is not the same as immediate removal of access. You keep watching until your paid period ends. If you do not realize this, you might expect to lose access immediately and miss content you wanted to watch. Note your final access date and plan your viewing accordingly.

Your cancellation checklist for starz

Use this checklist to confirm you have cancelled correctly and protected yourself.

Starz cancellation contact information for new zealand

If you need to cancel by mail or reach Starz directly, use the following addresses. Note that Starz does not maintain a separate New Zealand postal address, so written cancellations go to US corporate addresses. Email or in-app cancellation is faster and recommended.

Contact methods

Your fastest option is to cancel via the Starz app, website, or your distributor's app. If you require a written record or prefer postal cancellation, send a letter to Starz's US corporate office:

Starz Inc.
1016 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60607
United States

Include your full name, email address, account number (if you have it), and a clear statement that you wish to cancel your subscription effective immediately or by a specific date. Keep a copy of your letter and consider sending it via registered post to confirm delivery.

For faster resolution, contact Starz support through the app or website. Log into your account, go to Help or Contact Us, and submit a cancellation request through the support portal. Stopee recommends this method because you receive an immediate confirmation.

Key takeaways and next steps

Cancelling Starz in New Zealand is straightforward if you use the right method for your subscription type. Direct subscriptions cancel through the Starz app or website; distributor subscriptions cancel through Apple, Google, or your TV provider. You retain access until the end of your paid period, and automatic renewal stops immediately. You are not entitled to a refund for unused time under Starz's standard policy, but New Zealand consumer law gives you a 14-day right to cancel without loss if you have not started streaming, plus protection against service failures and misleading conduct.

Keep a cancellation confirmation, note your final access date, and monitor your bank account for 30 days to ensure no surprise charges appear. If Starz charges you after cancellation or you believe the company misled you, cite the Consumer Guarantees Act or Fair Trading Act in your complaint. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers in New Zealand resolve billing disputes, recover unwanted refunds, and cancel subscriptions without hassle. If you face resistance from Starz, contact Stopee for support with your case.