Manage Book Of The Month

How to cancel book of the month in the philippines without hidden charges

What book of the month is and why filipinos are cancelling

Book Of The Month is a monthly book subscription service based in New York that sends members a credit to choose from a curated selection of new fiction titles each month. You pay a recurring fee, log in to pick your book, and the credit expires if you skip a month.

For Filipino subscribers, the appeal is real: access to new releases before they hit local bookstores, and the convenience of home delivery. But many readers in the Philippines cancel because of three key issues: the time zone gap makes support frustrating, charges keep coming even after you think you cancelled, and pricing in US dollars means unexpected exchange rate fees on your card. Stopee understands these pain points, which is why we have created this step-by-step guide to help you cancel cleanly and keep your money safe.

How the service works

Each month, Book Of The Month gives you access to 5 to 7 hand-picked fiction titles. You choose one book using your monthly credit, or you skip the month and keep your credit for next time. The membership renews automatically on the same date every month unless you actively cancel.

The base membership costs $12.99 USD (approximately ₱734 at current rates), though some promotional plans range up to $17.99 USD (approximately ₱1,017). Gift memberships exist in 3-book, 6-book, and 12-book formats, but those are one-time purchases, not recurring subscriptions.

One trap catches many users: promotional sign-ups often come with a one-month renewal commitment. This means if you join at a discounted intro price, you are locked in for at least one full-price charge before you can cancel without penalty.

Why filipino users face extra friction

Book Of The Month operates on Eastern Time (ET), with customer support available Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM ET only. For you in the Philippines, that window is late evening or overnight, making real-time support nearly impossible.

Your card issuer (whether it is a bank card, GCash, or Maya) will also apply a foreign exchange rate on top of the US dollar charge. You might see a ₱734 purchase become ₱750 or ₱760 by the time it clears, due to currency conversion spreads. There is no localized Philippine pricing, no Filipino language support, and no local billing in pesos, so international friction is built into the experience.

Book of the month pricing and what you are actually paying for

The key number to watch is your next renewal date. Log in to your account right now and screenshot it. That date is when your card gets charged again, and if you do not cancel before it arrives, you will be charged for another month.

Should you cancel book of the month or pause it instead

Before you cancel outright, check whether Book Of The Month offers a pause option.

Pausing is useful if you are only taking a break for a month or two but want to keep your account active. Cancelling is final and erases your account history, rewards, or any stored preferences. If you are on a strict reading budget right now but plan to return to the service later, pausing might make sense. If you have lost interest in the service entirely or cannot justify the monthly cost, cancel immediately to stop the recurring charge.

Stopee recommends cancelling if you have not opened the app or website in over 3 months. That inactivity is usually a sign the service is not fitting your reading habits anymore, and keeping it active just drains your account monthly.

How to cancel book of the month: three methods depending on how you signed up

Your cancellation path depends on where you created your membership: directly on the Book Of The Month website, through the Apple App Store, or through Google Play.

Step 1: check your sign-up method and take evidence screenshots

Before you do anything, gather proof. Open your account, look at your payment history, and take screenshots of:

• Your membership status page showing your plan type
• Your next billing date
• Your last charge amount and date
• Your stored payment method (last 4 digits of card)
• One recent email receipt from Book Of The Month

Pro tip: Keep these screenshots in a folder on your phone or computer. If Book Of The Month charges you after you cancel, you will need proof of the cancellation and evidence of the unauthorized charge to dispute it with your card issuer under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chargeback rules.

Next, determine your sign-up method. Log in and look at the bottom of your account settings or billing page. It will usually say "Manage subscription on [platform]" or show you where you are subscribed. If you see nothing, you signed up directly on the website.

Method a: cancel through the book of the month website (direct sign-ups)

1. Go to bookofthemonth.com and sign in with your email and password.
   • If you cannot remember your password, click "Forgot password" and check the email Book Of The Month sent you to reset it.
2. Click your profile icon or account menu in the top right corner.
   • Look for options like "My Account," "Account Settings," or "Manage Membership."
3. Find the section labeled "Subscription," "Membership," or "Billing."
   • You should see your current plan, billing date, and a button that says "Cancel Membership" or "Manage Subscription."
4. Click the cancel or manage subscription button.
   • Book Of The Month will ask you why you are cancelling. You can select any reason or skip this question.
   • It may offer you a discount to stay. Ignore this unless you genuinely want to continue.
5. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.
   • Look for a final confirmation message that says something like "Your membership has been cancelled" or "Your subscription will end on [date]."
   • Take a screenshot of this confirmation page.
6. Check your email within 5 minutes.
   • Book Of The Month should send you a cancellation confirmation email to the address on file. If you do not receive it within 10 minutes, your cancellation may not have gone through. Log back in and try again.

Warning: Some users report that clicking cancel does not immediately disable billing. After you complete these steps, wait 24 hours, then log back in and verify that your membership status shows "Cancelled" or "Active until [end date]." If it still shows "Active" with no end date, repeat the process or contact support.

Method b: cancel through apple app store (iOS subscribers)

1. Open the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
   • Do not open the Book Of The Month app itself.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
   • It looks like a circle with your photo or initials.
3. Select "Subscriptions."
   • You will see a list of all active subscriptions on your Apple account.
4. Tap "Book Of The Month."
   • If you do not see it in the list, your subscription may not be through the App Store. Try Method A (website cancellation) or Method C (Google Play).
5. Tap "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage."
   • Apple will show you the next billing date and ask you to confirm the cancellation.
6. Confirm by tapping "Confirm Cancellation."
   • You will see a message like "Subscription cancelled." Your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle, then stops.

Pro tip: If you cannot find the cancel button, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, select "Subscriptions," then find Book Of The Month and tap "Cancel Subscription." Apple moved these controls around in recent iOS updates, so the path may vary slightly.

Method c: cancel through google play (Android subscribers)

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
   • Do not open the Book Of The Month app.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
   • It looks like a circle, usually in the far top right.
3. Select "Manage subscriptions" or "Payments and subscriptions."
   • This may appear as "Manage my subscriptions" or "Manage apps and devices."
4. Find "Book Of The Month" in the active subscriptions list.
   • If you do not see it, your subscription is not through Google Play. Try Method A or Method B.
5. Tap the subscription name.
   • You will see your billing date, plan details, and a "Cancel subscription" button.
6. Tap "Cancel subscription" and confirm.
   • Google Play will ask you to confirm one more time. Tap "Yes, cancel subscription."
7. You will see a confirmation screen and receive an email. Your service continues until your next billing date, then stops.
   • Take a screenshot of the confirmation.

Warning: Uninstalling the Book Of The Month app does not cancel your subscription. The app and the subscription are separate on Google Play and Apple App Store. You must cancel the subscription explicitly in your store settings, or your card will keep getting charged.

If online cancellation does not work: email and postal options

Some members find that the online cancel button does not work or gives an error. Others prefer written proof of their cancellation request. In those cases, you can cancel via email or registered mail.

Email cancellation

1. Write a short, clear email to member.services@bookofthemonth.com with the subject line: "Cancel my Book Of The Month membership."
   • Include: your full name, email address on file, the last four digits of your payment card, and your membership account number (if you have it).
   • Example: "Please cancel my Book Of The Month membership effective immediately. My email is sarah@example.ph and my card ending in 4567."
2. Send the email and keep a copy in your sent folder.
   • Do not delete it.
3. Wait 3 to 5 business days for a confirmation email from member.services@bookofthemonth.com.
   • Book Of The Month support operates Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM ET only, so expect delays if you email outside those hours or over a weekend.
4. If you do not receive a confirmation within 7 days, send a follow-up email and consider contacting your card issuer to block future charges.
   • Take screenshots of both emails (your original request and any follow-up).

Postal mail cancellation (backup option)

1. Write a letter or use an email printout containing:
   • Your full name and email address
   • Your membership account number
   • The date of your request
   • A clear statement: "I request immediate cancellation of my Book Of The Month subscription. Please confirm this cancellation in writing to my email."
2. Send the letter via registered mail (with tracking) to:
   • Book Of The Month, 34 W 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001, United States
3. Keep the postal receipt showing your tracking number.
   • Registered mail proves you sent it and when it arrived.
4. Allow 10 to 15 business days for postal transit to the United States, plus 5 to 7 business days for Book Of The Month to process it.
   • This method is slow but creates strong legal evidence of your cancellation request.

Pro tip: Stopee recommends email as your first backup. It is faster, you have an instant time-stamped record, and you can reference it in a chargeback dispute if needed. Use postal mail only if email fails or if you want maximum legal documentation.

What happens after you cancel: the critical 24-hour window

Cancellation can feel anticlimactic because you do not lose access immediately. Here is what actually happens:

• If you cancel before your next billing date, your membership stays active until that date. You can still access your account and pick books until then.
• On the date your current billing cycle ends, your access stops and you cannot log in to the website or app anymore.
• Book Of The Month will send you a final receipt for your last charge (if applicable) and a cancellation confirmation email.

In the 24 hours after cancellation, check these three things:

1. Log back into your account on the website. Verify that your membership status now says "Cancelled" or shows an end date.
2. Check your email inbox and spam folder for a cancellation confirmation from Book Of The Month.
3. Do not delete this email. You may need it for a bank dispute later.

Warning: If you see your membership still listed as "Active" with no end date after 24 hours, or if you receive a charge after your cancellation date, contact your card issuer immediately and tell them the charge is unauthorized. Stopee strongly advises you to flag this with your bank or card company right away rather than waiting to see if Book Of The Month fixes it on their own.

Refunds and what you can recover

Book Of The Month does not offer refunds for unused monthly credits if you cancel mid-cycle. Once you have paid for a month, that credit is yours to use until your access ends, but you cannot get cash back if you decide not to pick a book.

However, you have consumer protection rights under the Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394). If Book Of The Month:

• Charges you after you cancelled, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer.
• Makes misleading claims about cancellation (for example, saying it is automatic when it is not), that may be considered deceptive practice under the law.
• Locks you into a renewal you did not explicitly agree to, you may be entitled to a refund.

If you believe you were charged unfairly, you have two paths:

1. Contact your bank or card issuer and file a chargeback or dispute claim. Most Philippine banks (BDO, Metrobank, Security Bank, and others) allow you to dispute foreign charges within 60 to 90 days of the transaction. Provide your cancellation screenshot, confirmation email, and a brief explanation.
2. Escalate to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) if Book Of The Month repeatedly ignores cancellation requests or refuses to stop billing you. DTI handles consumer complaints against companies that violate the Consumer Act.

Pro tip: Always use a credit card or debit card with a major network (Visa, Mastercard) for international subscriptions. These cards give you stronger chargeback protections than prepaid cards or e-wallets. GCash and Maya linked to credit cards inherit those protections, but standalone e-wallet balances are harder to recover.

Common mistakes that prevent a clean cancellation

Cancelling a subscription is frustrating because the process is intentionally opaque. Companies make money from people who forget about charges or give up trying to cancel.

Here are the mistakes Stopee sees most often in the Philippines:

Mistake 1: assuming the app or account closure cancels your subscription

Deleting the Book Of The Month app from your phone does not cancel your subscription. Closing the website tab does not cancel it either. You must explicitly click a cancel button or send an email requesting cancellation. If you cannot find the cancel button on the website or app, your subscription is probably managed through your payment platform (App Store or Google Play), not directly through Book Of The Month.

Mistake 2: ignoring the sign-up method

If you signed up through Apple App Store, you must cancel through Apple App Store settings. If you signed up through Google Play, you must cancel through Google Play. If you signed up on the website, you must cancel on the website. Trying to cancel in the wrong place just wastes your time and leaves your subscription active.

Mistake 3: cancelling too late in the cycle

Book Of The Month charges you on the same date each month. If you cancel one day before that date, you still get charged. The charge happens automatically at midnight (Book Of The Month's server time), so you must cancel at least two to three days before your renewal date to be safe. Screenshot your renewal date right now and set a phone reminder for three days before it.

Mistake 4: not keeping proof

If you cannot prove you cancelled, you cannot dispute a charge. Save every screenshot, email, and receipt. If customer support tells you verbally that you cancelled but then charges you again, that verbal promise is worthless without written confirmation. Stopee recommends taking screenshots of every cancellation screen and forwarding the confirmation email to yourself as a backup.

Mistake 5: giving up after the website fails

The Book Of The Month website sometimes times out, crashes, or gives an error when you try to cancel. Some users see an error and assume they cancelled when they did not. If you get an error, try again in a different browser or a few hours later. If it keeps failing, use the email method instead. Do not assume the error means you are cancelled.

Your consumer rights under the consumer act of the philippines

As a Filipino consumer, you are protected by Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines). This law covers unfair business practices, including automatic renewals and misleading subscription terms.

Book Of The Month must:

• Clearly disclose the renewal terms and cost before you sign up.
• Make cancellation accessible and easy. Burying the cancel button or making it harder than signing up is a violation.
• Honour your cancellation within a reasonable timeframe (usually 1 to 2 billing cycles).
• Stop billing you after you cancel.

If Book Of The Month violates these rules, you can:

1. File a complaint with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bureau of Consumer Protection. You can file online at dti.gov.ph or visit your nearest DTI office.
2. Report the company to the BSP if charges continue after cancellation (this counts as unauthorized use of your payment card).
3. Dispute the charge with your card issuer and mention the Consumer Act violation in your dispute.

Stopee advises you not to be intimidated by the complexity. The law is on your side. If you cancelled in good faith and Book Of The Month keeps charging you, that is their breach, not yours.

Checklist: how to cancel book of the month step by step

Print or bookmark this checklist to stay on track.

If any step fails or you do not receive confirmation, use the email method (member.services@bookofthemonth.com) immediately.

Reviews and what other filipino users report

Book Of The Month has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating, which reflects satisfaction with the actual service but frustration with cancellation. Common feedback from Filipino users includes:

• "The book selection is great, but cancelling was a nightmare. I had to email three times and dispute the next charge with my bank before they stopped."
• "Time zone issues meant I could never reach support. The online cancel button did not work, so I just disputed the charges."
• "Beware the intro offer. It says $9.99 but locks you in for one renewal at $12.99. Read the fine print."
• "Exchange rate fees made each month more expensive than advertised. I switched to a local book service."

The pattern is clear: Book Of The Month works well if you stay subscribed, but the cancellation experience is deliberately difficult. That is why Stopee exists: to guide you through the friction and make sure you actually stop paying.

Alternatives if you want to cancel and move on

If you have decided Book Of The Month is not for you, you might want a replacement. Here are alternatives available in or shipped to the Philippines:

None of these services have the same curated selection as Book Of The Month, but they cost less and have easier cancellation policies.

Contact information and escalation address

If you have cancelled and Book Of The Month continues to charge you, here is how to escalate:

Primary contact (email): member.services@bookofthemonth.com

Mailing address for cancellation and disputes: Book Of The Month, 34 W 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001, United States

If Book Of The Month does not respond within 7 days: File a complaint with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at dti.gov.ph or visit your local DTI office. Include screenshots of your cancellation, confirmation emails, and proof of continued charges.

If charges continue after cancellation: Contact your card issuer or bank immediately and initiate a chargeback. Provide your cancellation proof and explain that the company is charging you after you cancelled. Most banks in the Philippines (BDO, Metrobank, Security Bank, Unionbank, and others) resolve these disputes within 30 to 45 days.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions that refused to stop, fight unauthorized charges, and recover their money. Your situation is not unique, and the path forward is clear: document everything, cancel through the correct channel, verify the cancellation, and escalate to your bank if needed. Book Of The Month is banking on you giving up. Do not. Stopee is here to make sure you cancel cleanly and move forward without hidden charges dragging on your account.