Manage Self

How to cancel self and stop gaming self-exclusion subscriptions

What self is and why you might cancel

Self is a subscription-based gaming self-exclusion service designed to help you manage gambling habits and set spending limits across participating venues and online platforms in South Africa. The service operates on a paid recurring billing model, with different tiers offering varying levels of control and monitoring features.

You might cancel Self if your circumstances change, you no longer need self-exclusion support, or you want to move to a different habit-management tool. Whatever your reason, Stopee is here to guide you through the cancellation process without frustration or hidden barriers.

How self works

Self provides account-based access to gambling restrictions that you control. Your subscription renews automatically each billing period, and you can manage your account either directly through Self's website or through the platform where you signed up (Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Android).

The service is used by individuals managing their own gambling activity, as well as by gambling facilities that provide Self accounts to their members. Your cancellation method depends entirely on where you originally subscribed.

Why cancellation matters

Cancelling Self stops future recurring charges and prevents unwanted automatic renewals. However, you need to understand that most subscription services, including Self, maintain a billing cycle approach, which means your access may continue until your current paid period ends. Taking action now prevents surprise charges down the line, and Stopee recommends cancelling as soon as you decide you no longer need the service.

Your consumer rights in south africa

Consumer protection act 68 of 2008

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act gives you important protections when dealing with subscription services. The Act requires service providers to be transparent about pricing, billing practices, and cancellation terms. If Self fails to clearly disclose automatic renewal terms or makes cancellation intentionally difficult, you have grounds to escalate your complaint to the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

Additionally, if you can prove that billing practices are unfair or deceptive, or if charges continue after you've cancelled, the Consumer Protection Act empowers you to demand a refund and claim compensation. Stopee advises you to keep all cancellation confirmations and communication records, as these documents are essential evidence if a dispute arises.

Cooling-off period and refund rights

While Self's published terms do not explicitly offer a standard cooling-off period for cancellations, South African law may provide consumer protections depending on how you purchased the subscription. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, those platforms' own refund policies may apply independently of Self's terms.

If you believe you have been wrongly charged or if technical failures prevented you from using Self's promised features, escalation to the NCC is a legitimate step. Stopee recommends documenting the issue clearly and requesting an adjustment before pursuing formal complaint channels.

How to cancel self step by step

Cancel via the self website or app account settings

If you subscribed directly with Self through their website or created your account independently, follow this method to cancel:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Self website.
2. Log into your account using your email address and password.
   • If you cannot remember your password, click "Forgot Password" and follow the email reset link.
3. Navigate to your Account Settings or Subscriptions section (usually found in a profile menu or settings icon).
   • Look for a label like "My Subscription", "Billing", or "Manage Plan".
4. Locate the "Cancel Subscription" or "End Subscription" button.
   • Self may ask you a brief survey about why you are cancelling; you can answer honestly or skip this step.
5. Confirm your cancellation when prompted.
   • A confirmation message should appear on screen and you will receive a cancellation confirmation email within minutes.
6. Save or screenshot the confirmation email for your records.
   • Pro tip: Take a screenshot of the cancellation page and save the confirmation email to a dedicated folder. This protects you if Self later claims you never cancelled.

Important: Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle. You retain access to all features until that date, after which your account will be downgraded to free or read-only access.

Cancel via apple app store (iOS)

If you signed up for Self through the Apple App Store on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you must cancel through Apple's subscription management portal, not through Self's app itself:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Tap or click your name at the top of the Settings menu.
   • On Mac, click "System Preferences", then "Apple ID".
3. Select "Subscriptions" (you may see this as "Media and Purchases" on older devices).
   • If you do not see this option, ensure you are logged into your Apple ID.
4. Find Self in the list of active subscriptions.
   • Scroll down if Self does not appear immediately; it will be grouped under your subscriptions.
5. Tap Self to open its subscription details page.
6. Select "Cancel Subscription" at the bottom of the screen.
   • Apple will offer you options to pause or change your plan; select "Cancel" to confirm.
7. Confirm your cancellation choice when Apple asks for final confirmation.
   • Your subscription will end at the conclusion of your current billing period. Apple will send you a confirmation email.

Warning: If you cancel the Self app but do not cancel your subscription through Settings, you will continue to be charged. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.

Cancel via google play store (Android)

If you subscribed to Self via the Google Play Store on an Android device, follow these steps to end your subscription:

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
   • It appears as a circle with your initial or profile picture.
3. Select "Payments and subscriptions".
   • You may see "Manage subscriptions" as an alternative label on some Android versions.
4. Tap "Subscriptions" to view all active subscriptions on this Google account.
   • All subscriptions linked to your Google Play Store account will appear here, regardless of which device you use.
5. Find Self in the list and tap it.
6. Select "Cancel subscription" at the bottom of the screen.
   • Google Play will provide cancellation options; confirm that you want to cancel.
7. Review the cancellation summary and confirm your choice.
   • Your access ends at the end of your current billing cycle, and Google will send a confirmation to your email.

Pro tip: If you have multiple Google accounts, ensure you are cancelling from the correct account. Go to Settings > Accounts on your Android device to check which Google account is linked to Google Play.

What happens after you cancel self

Your access and features during the grace period

After you cancel, you keep full access to Self's features and betting restrictions until your current billing period ends. This grace period protects you, because you continue to benefit from Self's self-exclusion controls even after you have decided not to renew.

Once the billing cycle concludes, Self removes your premium features and may downgrade your account to a free tier (if one exists) or restrict access entirely. You will receive a notification email a few days before the final date, reminding you of the upcoming end of service.

Future billing and automatic renewals

Once you cancel, Self stops all automatic renewal charges. No further charges will appear on your payment method, and no hidden renewal fees should occur. If you receive a charge after cancelling, contact Self's support team immediately and report the unexpected charge to your bank or payment provider within 30 days of the transaction.

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, those platforms are responsible for stopping the renewal, not Self directly. If charges continue, escalate the complaint to Apple or Google respectively.

Self refund policy and recovery options

Standard self refund terms

Self's subscription terms state that all fees are non-refundable once the billing period has begun. The company does not typically refund partial months or unused services, even if you cancel early in your billing cycle.

However, refunds may be available in exceptional cases, such as if a technical failure prevented you from accessing Self's core features, or if Self's support team agrees to an adjustment due to circumstances beyond your control. Contact Self's support team directly to discuss any refund request before escalating further.

App store refunds and dispute options

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, Apple allows refund requests for up to 14 days from purchase for the first charge, and generally within 90 days for subsequent charges if you request them directly through Apple. You must initiate this refund request through your Apple Account, not through Self.

Google Play has a similar 48-hour refund window from the date of purchase for app subscriptions. If you believe a charge was unauthorised or incorrect, request a refund through Google Play first; if denied, contact your bank to dispute the charge.

Pro tip: If Self charged you after you cancelled, and the charge appears on your statement, treat it as an unauthorised billing error. Contact your bank within 30 days to dispute the charge, and provide your cancellation confirmation email as evidence.

Escalation to the national consumer commission

If Self refuses a legitimate refund request or continues to charge you after cancellation, you can lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC investigates unfair billing practices and can compel service providers to refund customers or pay compensation. Stopee recommends collecting all evidence, including your cancellation confirmation, billing statements, and communication with Self's support team, before filing an NCC complaint.

Pricing and plan information for self

South african pricing for self subscriptions

Self offers multiple subscription tiers, but official South African Rand (ZAR) pricing was not found in publicly available sources at the time of this guide. The service may charge differently depending on whether you subscribe directly or through an app store, and pricing may vary by region.

The table below summarises what you should do to find current pricing:

Pro tip: Before you cancel, check if Self offers discounts for longer commitment periods (annual plans often cost less per month than monthly plans). If you are cancelling because of cost, downgrading to a lower tier may be a better option than cancelling entirely.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling self

Mistakes that leave you still charged

Cancelling is straightforward, but small errors can leave you paying for a service you no longer use. Here are the traps Stopee has seen thousands of consumers fall into:

• Deleting the Self app without cancelling the subscription. The app and the subscription are separate. Removing the app from your phone does nothing to stop recurring charges. You must cancel the subscription itself through your account settings or app store.
• Cancelling through the Self website but forgetting about an app store subscription. If you have subscriptions active through both the Self website and the Apple App Store (or Google Play), you must cancel both separately. Cancelling one does not cancel the other.
• Not saving your cancellation confirmation. Always take a screenshot or save the confirmation email. If Self's system fails and charges you again, your confirmation proves you cancelled.
• Assuming your access ends immediately. Most subscriptions, including Self, remain active until the end of the current billing cycle. Do not expect access to stop the day you cancel.
• Ignoring unexpected charges after cancellation. If you see a charge after cancelling, contact Self within 7 days. If they cannot explain it, dispute the charge with your bank immediately.

Cancellation checklist for self

Stopee has created this checklist to ensure you cancel Self correctly and avoid future problems:

Getting help if cancellation goes wrong

Contact details and escalation paths

If you run into trouble cancelling Self, or if charges continue after you have cancelled, you have multiple avenues for resolution. Stopee recommends starting with Self's support team, then escalating to your payment provider or the app store if needed.

Contact Self directly through their website's support or help centre. Most support teams respond within 1-2 business days. Explain your cancellation problem clearly, attach your cancellation confirmation if you have it, and ask for a written response confirming the cancellation has been processed.

If Self does not respond within 7 days, or if they refuse to cancel your account, file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission. You can also contact your bank or payment provider and dispute the charge if you believe it was unauthorised or made in error.

Apple and google support for subscription issues

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play, you can contact those platforms directly to report a problem. Apple's support team handles App Store subscription disputes at appleid.apple.com/account/subscriptions, and Google's support is available through the Google Play Help Centre.

These platforms can refund you directly if they find that Self continued to charge you after cancellation, or if the charges were made without authorisation. Provide them with your cancellation confirmation and bank statement showing the disputed charges.

Why stopee can help you cancel with confidence

Cancelling a subscription should be simple, but service providers sometimes make it deliberately difficult. Stopee is a consumer advocacy platform that has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and recover unauthorized charges. Our guides cover every major service in South Africa, and our team stays updated on changing cancellation methods and consumer laws.

Whether you are cancelling Self because your circumstances have changed, or because you found a better alternative, Stopee empowers you with step-by-step instructions, insider knowledge of common traps, and clear information about your consumer rights under South African law. Visit Stopee.com to find cancellation guides for hundreds of other services, dispute templates if you need to escalate a billing problem, and detailed information on your rights as a South African consumer.

Stopee has guided thousands of South Africans through subscription cancellations successfully, recovering thousands of Rands in unwanted charges and preventing future billing disputes. Your time and money matter, and Stopee is here to protect both.