Manage Costar

How to cancel costar and avoid surprise charges in the philippines

What costar is and why cancellation matters

Costar is a commercial real estate data and analytics platform used by professionals to access property information, market intelligence, and business analytics tools. It is not a mainstream consumer app like Netflix or Spotify-it is an enterprise-grade service with sales-assisted billing and account management.

If you subscribed to Costar, you likely did so for professional research access. However, cancelling is not straightforward. The service lacks a simple in-app unsubscribe button, which means many Filipino users end up stuck in billing cycles they cannot easily exit. At Stopee, we have seen this pattern repeat: people attempt to cancel, hear nothing back, and then discover another charge on their card.

The good news is that you have legal rights in the Philippines, and you can cancel Costar by following the correct process. This guide walks you through every step.

How costar works

Costar operates on a subscription model where you pay monthly access fees to unlock data, analytics dashboards, and commercial real estate research tools. The service is designed for real estate professionals, investors, and market researchers who need continuous access to updated property intelligence.

Because Costar targets professionals and businesses, it does not offer self-service cancellation through a settings menu. Instead, you must contact their customer service team directly to end your subscription. This manual process is where most cancellation problems begin.

Costar pricing tiers

Costar does not publish transparent pricing on its public website for all users. However, the typical subscription plans look like this:

Your exact price depends on your plan type and any custom agreements. Always check your latest invoice to confirm your current monthly charge.

Your consumer rights in the philippines

What the consumer act of the philippines says about cancellation

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) gives you the right to cancel subscriptions and demand refunds if the service provider breaks their promise, charges without clear consent, or fails to deliver what you paid for.

Key protections under this law include:

• The right to receive clear information about billing dates and renewal terms before you subscribe
• The right to cancel within a reasonable cooling-off period if you change your mind
• The right to a refund if the service is not delivered or if you are charged without your consent
• The right to transparent billing-hidden charges and misleading terms are illegal

If Costar continues to charge you after you request cancellation, or if you can prove your cancellation request was ignored, you have grounds to escalate to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) in the Philippines. The NCC enforces consumer protection and can force refunds.

Stopee recommends you keep all cancellation emails, screenshots, and payment records. If a dispute arises, these documents prove what you communicated and when.

How to use your rights if costar refuses to cancel

If you request cancellation and Costar does not honour it-or if you are charged after cancelling-you can escalate:

• File a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) at complaints@ncc.gov.ph
• Report unauthorized charges to your bank or credit card issuer and request a chargeback
• Consult a consumer rights lawyer if the amount is significant

These steps are your safety net. Most companies comply when they know you understand your rights.

Methods to cancel costar

How costar handles cancellation requests

Costar does not offer a self-service cancellation portal. Instead, the company requires you to contact their customer support team directly. There is no public cancellation link or in-app button-you must reach out manually.

This is by design. Enterprise-style services like Costar often make cancellation harder to protect recurring revenue. At Stopee, we see this pattern across B2B software and data services.

Official cancellation channels for costar

Costar provides these contact methods:

Email is your best option because it creates a permanent record. A phone call leaves no proof that you canceled.

Step-by-step cancellation process

Prepare your account information before cancelling

Do not contact Costar until you have gathered these details. The company will ask for them, and having them ready speeds up the process.

1. Log into your Costar account and find your account dashboard
2. Screenshot or write down your account number or login email
   • This is usually shown on your account settings page
3. Find your latest invoice and note the billing date
   • Look for a "Billing" or "Invoices" section in your account
   • Write down the exact date your subscription renews (e.g., 15th of every month)
4. Note the payment method on file (credit card, bank account, or other)
   • Screenshot the last four digits and expiry if it is a card
5. Save any data or reports you may need after cancellation
   • Costar may delete your data after cancellation, so export anything important
6. Take a screenshot of your current plan name and price

Pro tip: Do this before you send any email. Having all details ready prevents back-and-forth messages and speeds up cancellation by days.

How to cancel via email (recommended method)

Email gives you proof that you requested cancellation. This is critical if a dispute arises later.

1. Open your email client and compose a new message to support@costar.com
2. Use a clear subject line
   • Example: "Cancellation request for account [your account number/email]"
3. Write your cancellation request in the body
   • Include your full name, account email, and account number
   • State clearly: "I request to cancel my Costar subscription effective immediately"
   • Include your current billing date and plan name
   • Ask for written confirmation of cancellation and the date it takes effect
   • Example: "Please confirm my cancellation in writing and tell me when my access will end"
4. Send the email and save a copy in your records
5. Wait for a response (usually within 1-2 business days)
6. When you receive confirmation, save it in a folder labelled "Costar cancellation"

Warning: Do not assume cancellation is complete until you receive written confirmation from Costar. Many users think they have cancelled, only to discover charges weeks later.

How to cancel via phone (if you need immediate action)

Phone cancellation is faster but leaves no written record. Use this only if you need to cancel urgently and cannot wait for email.

1. Note that the Costar phone number (+1 800-613-1303) is a US number; Philippines calls may incur international charges
2. Call during US business hours (the company operates on Eastern Time)
3. When you reach a representative, state your name and account details clearly
4. Say: "I want to cancel my subscription effective immediately"
5. Ask the representative to confirm
   • When your access will end
   • Whether you will be charged again
   • If a refund is available
6. Ask them to email you a confirmation of cancellation
   • This is the critical step-do not hang up without this
   • Say: "Please send me a written confirmation by email to [your email]"
7. After the call, send a follow-up email to support@costar.com restating what you agreed to over the phone
   • Example: "I spoke with [name of representative] at [time/date] and requested cancellation. Please confirm this in writing."

Pro tip: Use the phone method only if email support is slow or you are near a renewal date and cannot wait.

How to cancel through the online contact form

This method is slower than email but works if you prefer not to contact support directly.

1. Visit costar.com/contact on your browser
2. Fill in the contact form with your details
   • Full name, email address, phone number, account number
   • In the "Message" field, type: "I request to cancel my Costar subscription effective immediately. Please confirm cancellation in writing."
3. Select a category if available (e.g., "Billing" or "Account management")
4. Submit the form
5. You should receive an automated confirmation that your inquiry was received
6. Wait for a response (allow 2-3 business days)

Email is still faster because it goes directly to support, whereas web forms may take longer to route.

Refunds and billing after cancellation

Will you get a refund for unused time

Costar's terms state that subscription fees are non-refundable for the current billing period. This means if you cancel on the 20th of a month but your renewal date is the 25th, you will likely not receive a refund for those five days.

However, you should not be charged for the next billing period after you cancel. Once cancellation is confirmed, your access should end and no new charges should appear.

If you are charged after cancellation, you have the right to demand a refund under Philippine consumer law. Stopee recommends you contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately if an unauthorized charge appears.

What happens to your data after cancellation

Costar may delete your account and data within 30 days of cancellation. If you need any reports, dashboards, or saved data, export or download them before you request cancellation.

Ask Costar in your cancellation email: "Will I lose access to my data immediately after cancellation, or do I have a window to download my information?" This gives you time to save what you need.

Timeline and common delays in cancellation

How long cancellation should take

A cancellation should be processed within 3 to 5 business days once you submit your request. Here is the typical timeline:

If you have not heard back within 5 business days, send a follow-up email.

What to do if costar ignores your cancellation request

If more than 7 days have passed and you have not received confirmation, escalate:

1. Send a second email to support@costar.com with the subject "Follow-up: cancellation request not acknowledged"
   • Include the date of your original cancellation email
   • State: "I have not received confirmation of my cancellation request. Please respond within 48 hours."
2. If there is still no response after 3 days, contact the National Consumer Commission (NCC)
   • File a complaint at complaints@ncc.gov.ph
   • Include copies of your cancellation email and proof of payment
3. Contact your bank or credit card issuer and report the unauthorized recurring charges

The NCC takes non-compliance seriously. Most companies respond quickly once a formal complaint is filed.

Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistakes that delay or derail your cancellation

Cancelling Costar can be frustrating, especially when you are not sure what you are doing. Here are the pitfalls that trap most users:

• Calling without following up in writing. You call, think you cancelled, and hear nothing back. Three weeks later, another charge appears. Always ask for a written confirmation, and send a follow-up email to create a paper trail.
• Cancelling too late in the billing cycle. If your renewal date is in two days and you cancel today, you will still be charged for the full next month. To avoid this, cancel at least five to seven days before your renewal date. Check your invoice to find the exact date.
• Not saving your confirmation email. You receive cancellation confirmation but delete it. Three months later, you are charged again. Save this email in a folder and print a copy. You will need it to prove your case if the company disputes you.
• Assuming your access is gone when you cancel. Many users expect immediate access loss. Costar may give you a grace period. Do not assume anything-ask in your cancellation email: "When will my access end?"
• Forgetting to export your data. You cancel and lose all your saved reports and dashboards. Download or export anything important before you send your cancellation request.
• Not checking for charges after cancellation. One month passes and you forget to check your bank statement. By month three, you have missed three charges. Set a phone reminder to check your statement two weeks after cancellation is confirmed.

After you cancel costar

Steps to take once cancellation is confirmed

Cancelling is only half the battle. What you do after matters just as much in protecting yourself from surprise charges.

1. Save your cancellation confirmation email in a clearly labelled folder
   • Create a folder on your computer called "Costar cancellation"
   • Save emails, screenshots, and transaction records
2. Mark your calendar to check your bank statement two weeks after cancellation takes effect
   • Make sure no new charges appear
   • If a charge appears, take a screenshot immediately
3. Update your payment method if the card is still linked to your account
   • You can ask Costar to remove the card from your account in your cancellation email
   • Or contact your bank and request a new card with a different number
4. If your bank offers transaction notifications, enable alerts for Costar or the vendor name
5. Keep your cancellation records for at least one year
   • If a dispute arises, you will have proof of what happened

What to do if charges continue after cancellation

If you are charged after you cancel-and you have written confirmation that cancellation was approved-you have been wronged.

1. Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately
   • Tell them: "I cancelled this subscription but was charged again. Here is proof of cancellation."
   • Provide your cancellation confirmation email
   • Request a chargeback or reversal of the unauthorized charge
2. Send a formal complaint to Costar
   • Email support@costar.com with subject: "Unauthorized charge after cancellation - demand for refund"
   • Include the date of the unauthorized charge, your cancellation confirmation, and your bank transaction number
   • Give them 10 days to refund you
3. If Costar does not refund within 10 days, escalate to the National Consumer Commission
   • File a formal complaint at complaints@ncc.gov.ph
   • The NCC can compel Costar to refund you

Cancellation checklist

Before you cancel

• I have noted my account number or registered email address
• I have found my latest invoice and confirmed my renewal date
• I have taken a screenshot of my current plan and monthly cost
• I have exported or saved any data I need to keep
• I am cancelling at least 5 days before my renewal date
• I understand that my subscription fees for the current month are non-refundable

During cancellation

• I am using email (support@costar.com) to create a written record
• I have stated clearly: "I request to cancel my subscription"
• I have included my account number or email address
• I have asked for written confirmation and the effective cancellation date
• I have saved a copy of my sent email

After cancellation

• I have received written confirmation of cancellation from Costar
• I have saved this confirmation email in a labelled folder
• I have set a reminder to check my bank statement 2 weeks later
• I have confirmed that no new charges appear in my next billing cycle
• I have kept all cancellation records for at least one year

Summary and your next steps

What you need to know about cancelling costar

Costar is a professional data service, not a consumer app, which is why cancellation is not as simple as tapping an "Unsubscribe" button. You must contact the company directly through email or phone. There is no refund for the current billing period, but you should not be charged for any period after cancellation is confirmed.

The most important rule is to keep written proof. Email support@costar.com, ask for confirmation, save that confirmation, and check your bank statement two weeks later. If you follow this process, you protect yourself from surprise charges.

If Costar refuses to cancel or continues to charge you, the Consumer Act of the Philippines is on your side. The National Consumer Commission can force a refund if the company does not comply.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel problematic subscriptions and recover unauthorized charges. Our mission is to give you the knowledge and confidence to stand up to billing problems. If Costar continues to charge you after you cancel, do not accept it-escalate, document, and demand a refund.

Contact information for costar cancellation

Use these details to start your cancellation:

Stopee recommends you start with email at support@costar.com. Keep that confirmation email forever, check your statement two weeks later, and you will be protected. You deserve clarity in your billing and respect for your cancellation request. Stopee is here to remind you of your rights.