Manage Nowsite

How to cancel nowsite and protect your data: a practical guide for south african small-business owners

What nowsite is and why you might want to leave

Nowsite is a software-as-a-service platform designed to help small business owners, sole traders and local service providers build websites and manage basic digital marketing tasks without technical expertise. The platform offers website building, email marketing and social media tools bundled together for non-technical users.

If you've been using Nowsite but find yourself ready to move on-whether because you've outgrown the platform, found a better fit, or simply need to cut costs-understanding your cancellation options and consumer rights is the first step towards a smooth exit. That's where Stopee comes in: we've worked with thousands of South African consumers navigating subscription cancellations, and we know the common pitfalls.

Who typically uses nowsite

Nowsite attracts small-business owners operating on tight budgets who need a quick online presence without hiring developers. Many users are local service providers, tradespeople, consultants and e-commerce starters who value simplicity over advanced features.

One important detail: Nowsite also partners with third-party distributors like Nueva Global for certain app subscriptions. This means your Nowsite experience may involve managing cancellations through multiple channels.

Common reasons to cancel

You might be cancelling because your business has grown beyond Nowsite's capabilities, because you've found a competitor with better pricing, or simply because the platform no longer serves your needs. Whatever your reason, Stopee recognises that cancellation should be straightforward-and we're here to help you navigate it.

Your consumer rights in south africa and how they protect you

South African law gives you significant protections as a consumer, even when dealing with foreign-based software companies like Nowsite.

The consumer protection act and cooling-off rights

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is your strongest legal tool when cancelling digital services. The CPA provides you with a cooling-off period-typically 5 business days from the date you conclude a distance contract (which includes online services)-during which you can cancel and receive a refund without penalty.

This is critical: Nowsite's stated policy of "no refunds for self-initiated cancellations" may directly conflict with your statutory cooling-off rights under the CPA. If you cancel within the cooling-off period, you are legally entitled to a refund of all charges, regardless of what Nowsite's terms say.

Additionally, the CPA protects you against unfair contract terms. If Nowsite's cancellation process is deliberately obscured or unreasonably burdensome, this may be considered an unfair practice under South African consumer law.

Escalation: the national consumer commission

If Nowsite refuses to honour your cancellation or refund rights, you can lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC investigates complaints of unfair business practices and can compel companies to comply with consumer protection law. You don't need a lawyer to file a complaint, and the process is free.

Stopee recommends keeping all communications with Nowsite-emails, call records, confirmation numbers-because these become crucial evidence if you need to escalate to the NCC.

How to cancel nowsite: step-by-step methods

Nowsite has two main cancellation pathways depending on how you signed up. Follow the correct method for your situation to avoid delays.

Cancelling a direct nowsite website subscription

If you signed up directly through Nowsite's website for their website builder, email marketing or social media tools, use this method.

1. Email support@now.site with a clear subject line: "Cancellation Request - [Your Account Email]".
2. Include your full name, account email address and the date you wish cancellation to take effect.
3. In your email, reference that you are requesting cancellation under your statutory cooling-off rights (if within 5 business days) or simply as a cancellation notice. Be specific-vague requests slow down the process.
4. Important: Nowsite requires you to schedule and complete a phone or video call with their support team during business hours (9 am to 5 pm EST, which is 3 pm to 11 pm South African Standard Time). An email alone will not cancel your account.
5. When you receive a response, book the call immediately. During the call, confirm verbally that you wish to cancel and ask the support agent to email you a cancellation confirmation within 24 hours.
6. Record the support agent's name, the exact date and time of your call, and any reference number they provide. Save this confirmation email in a secure folder.
7. Pro tip: Ask the support agent to specify the exact date your access will terminate and whether any remaining prepaid balance will be refunded or credited. Get this in writing.
8. If you do not receive written confirmation within 24 hours, follow up with another email referencing your call and requesting written confirmation of the cancellation date.

Cancelling an account via nueva global (app subscriptions)

If you signed up for Nowsite services through a third-party platform like the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or through Nueva Global's distribution service, use this method instead.

1. Email nueva@now.site with the subject line "Cancellation Request".
2. In the email body, include your full name, the email address associated with your Nowsite account, and the app or service you wish to cancel (for example, "Nowsite email marketing via Apple App Store").
3. Provide a brief reason for cancellation-this is optional but can help if there's a dispute later.
4. Be aware that Nueva Global's cancellation policy states that cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. You will not receive a prorated refund for unused days in your current cycle.
5. Keep a copy of your email and note the date you sent it. Esta helps if you need to prove you requested cancellation on time.
6. Allow 5 to 7 business days for a response. If you don't hear back, follow up with another email.
7. Warning: If you signed up through the Apple App Store or Google Play, you may also need to cancel through that platform directly to prevent future charges. Check your app store subscription settings and cancel there as well.

What happens after you cancel nowsite

Cancellation with Nowsite is not instant-understanding the timeline and what to expect protects you from nasty surprises.

Access and service termination

Once Nowsite confirms your cancellation in writing, your access to the platform typically continues until the end of your current billing cycle or until the stated termination date, whichever comes first. Some accounts lose access immediately upon confirmation; others retain access until month-end. Nowsite's policy is inconsistent, which is why you must get a specific end date in writing.

The moment your cancellation is confirmed, Nowsite may begin preparing to remove your data. You should not rely on accessing your content after the cancellation end date.

Data backup and content export

Before your cancellation is processed-ideally the same day you request it-download and back up every piece of content you own: website pages, email subscriber lists, contact databases, images, documents and any other files you created.

Nowsite does not provide a built-in export tool for all content types. You may need to manually download pages, screenshot designs or request data exports from support. Do this before your cancellation date; after that date, access may be restricted.

If Nowsite terminates your account without cause (rare but possible), they may allow a brief grace period for data retrieval. If they terminate with cause-for example, violating their terms-you may lose access immediately with no recovery period.

Refunds and billing: what you're entitled to

Nowsite's refund policy and your legal entitlements are not the same thing. Here's the distinction that matters.

Nowsite's stated refund policy

Nowsite's terms state that refunds or credits are not provided for self-initiated cancellations, except at Nowsite's sole discretion. In other words, they reserve the right to refuse refunds even if you cancel on day two of your subscription.

The only exception Nowsite acknowledges is if they terminate your account without cause-in which case they may refund the remainder of a prepaid month. This is discretionary, not guaranteed.

Your statutory right to a refund under south african law

Here's the critical point: Nowsite's policy does not override your rights under the Consumer Protection Act. If you cancel within 5 business days of signing up (the cooling-off period), you are entitled to a full refund, regardless of Nowsite's policy. The CPA takes precedence.

If you cancel after the cooling-off period, Nowsite's no-refund policy likely applies-unless you can prove the service was not fit for purpose, was misrepresented, or that the cancellation process itself was unfair.

Pro tip: If you believe Nowsite misrepresented their service or failed to deliver what they promised, this may qualify as a breach of the CPA's "fitness for purpose" requirement, which could entitle you to a refund even outside the cooling-off window. Document any evidence of this.

Charges processed before cancellation

Any charges processed before your cancellation is finalised are non-refundable unless you prove they were unauthorised or that Nowsite broke the law. If you cancel on the 15th of the month but Nowsite processes a charge on the 1st of the next month before your cancellation takes effect, that charge may not be refundable under their policy-but you can dispute it if cancellation should have already been in effect.

Third-party app store refunds

If you purchased Nowsite through the Apple App Store or Google Play, those platforms have their own refund policies, which are often more generous than Nowsite's. Apple and Google typically allow refunds within 14 to 30 days if you request them directly through the app store, even if Nowsite refuses. Contact Apple Support or Google Play Support to request a refund independently.

Nowsite pricing and what you should know before you leave

Understanding what you're paying helps you assess whether a refund is realistic and what alternatives might save you money.

Current pricing structure

Nowsite does not publish transparent, up-to-date pricing on their website. Pricing varies based on your location, business type, bundle selections and whether you're billed monthly or annually. To obtain current rates for your situation, you must contact Nowsite support directly or request a quote through their website.

The table below shows the typical plan tiers, but exact pricing requires direct contact:

Annual vs. monthly billing

If you're on an annual plan, cancelling early typically means losing the entire prepaid amount under Nowsite's policy. This is one of the strongest arguments for invoking your cooling-off rights if you're still within 5 business days. If you're several months into an annual plan and want to cancel, negotiating a partial refund or requesting a month-to-month downgrade may be more effective than a flat refusal.

Common mistakes people make when cancelling nowsite

We've seen this before: consumers contact Nowsite, think they've cancelled, but months later find charges still appearing. Here's how to avoid that.

Relying on email alone

Nowsite explicitly states that email cancellation requests must be followed by a phone or video call. Many users email support@now.site, receive no response, assume they've cancelled, and then get charged again. Email is not enough. You must schedule and complete the call.

Not getting written confirmation

After your cancellation call, the support agent may say "You're all set" verbally, but without a follow-up email confirmation, you have no proof. Two weeks later, you're charged again, and Nowsite claims you never cancelled. Always request written confirmation within 24 hours of your call, and if it doesn't arrive, chase it up.

Forgetting to cancel third-party subscriptions

If you signed up through the Apple App Store or Google Play, cancelling your Nowsite account directly may not stop charges. You must cancel in the app store settings as well. Many users cancel through Nowsite but miss the app store step, leading to unexpected renewals.

Not backing up data in time

Users often assume they'll have a week after cancellation to download their content. Nowsite can and will remove access immediately in some cases. Export your data before you submit your cancellation request, not after.

Ignoring the cooling-off window

If you're within 5 business days of signing up, use that window to cancel and claim your full refund under the CPA. Don't wait-the moment you pass day 5, Nowsite's no-refund policy kicks in, and your legal leverage weakens significantly.

Checklist: cancelling nowsite successfully

Use this checklist to ensure you've covered every step:

• Determine whether you signed up directly with Nowsite or through a third party (Nueva Global, Apple App Store, Google Play).
• Calculate the date you signed up and check if you're still within the 5-business-day cooling-off period.
• Download and back up all your website content, email lists, images and files.
• Send your cancellation email to the correct address (support@now.site for direct accounts, nueva@now.site for Nueva Global).
• Include your full name, account email and a clear request to cancel.
• Wait for a response scheduling your phone or video call.
• Complete the call with Nowsite support and record the agent's name, date, time and any reference number.
• Request written confirmation of the cancellation date and any refund or credit amount within 24 hours.
• If you signed up through an app store, cancel your subscription in the app store settings as well.
• Save all emails and documentation in a secure folder for at least 6 months.
• Verify that no charges appear on your statement after the stated cancellation date. If they do, escalate to the NCC if Nowsite refuses to reverse them.

When to escalate your cancellation to the national consumer commission

If Nowsite ignores your cancellation request, refuses to provide written confirmation, continues charging you after cancellation, or denies you a refund you're legally entitled to, escalation is your next step.

Signs you should escalate

You should consider filing a complaint with the NCC if: Nowsite does not respond to your cancellation email within 10 business days; they refuse to schedule the required phone call; they acknowledge your cancellation but continue charging you; they refuse to refund you during the cooling-off period; or they claim charges cannot be reversed when you have proof of cancellation.

Stopee has supported consumers through dozens of escalations to the NCC, and the commission takes these complaints seriously, especially against foreign companies operating in South Africa without honouring consumer law.

How to file a complaint

Visit the National Consumer Commission website (ncc.org.za) and complete their online complaint form. You'll need to provide your name, contact details, a description of the issue, copies of relevant emails and transaction records, and details of any attempts you've made to resolve the matter with Nowsite directly.

The NCC will investigate and, if they find in your favour, can order Nowsite to refund you, remove charges or comply with cancellation demands. There's no cost to you, and you don't need a lawyer.

Your next steps: cancelling with confidence

Cancelling Nowsite doesn't have to be stressful. You have legal rights, clear steps to follow, and escalation options if the company tries to obstruct you. The key is to act quickly, document everything and know that South African consumer law is on your side.

Start by identifying which cancellation method applies to you, send your email today, and schedule your confirmation call. Back up your data, request written confirmation and keep records. If Nowsite refuses to cooperate, the NCC is ready to help.

Stopee has helped thousands of South African consumers cancel subscriptions, recover refunds and avoid repeated charges. Our step-by-step guidance and consumer rights knowledge give you the confidence to walk away from Nowsite on your terms. Your cancellation shouldn't feel like a battle-and with the right information and persistence, it won't be. Stopee is here to support you every step of the way, whether you're navigating Nowsite or any other subscription service holding you hostage with hidden charges or difficult cancellation processes.