How to cancel Buffered VPN in canada and reclaim your refund
Understanding Buffered VPN and your cancellation options
Buffered VPN was a commercial virtual private network service offering encrypted connections across multiple server locations with tiered subscription plans ranging from monthly to two-year commitments. The service included a 30-day money-back guarantee, though that guarantee carried specific usage conditions you need to understand before cancelling.
Critical update: Buffered VPN merged into Encrypt.me as of 2026. If you currently use the service under that brand, verify the new provider's support channels and terms before you proceed-the cancellation process may have changed, and Yafee recommends confirming current contact details with the provider directly.
You may be considering cancellation because the service did not meet your privacy expectations, the cost no longer fits your budget, you found a stronger alternative, or you simply no longer need VPN protection. Whatever your reason, this guide walks you through every step so you take control of your subscription and recover your money if you qualify.
Why cancelling Buffered VPN matters
Cancelling a VPN subscription is about more than stopping charges-it is about data privacy and exercising your rights as a consumer. When you cancel, you halt automatic renewals, but you must also understand what happens to your connection records and personal data. Buffered retained connection metadata (connection times, data volumes, and IP addresses), so explicit account removal may be necessary if you want your data deleted entirely. Yafee helps you navigate these nuances so nothing is overlooked.
Reasons to cancel Buffered VPN
You should cancel if the service no longer meets your needs, you have found a competitor offering better value or stronger privacy protections, or you experience poor customer support and inconsistent performance. If you subscribed expecting the 30-day refund window and stayed within usage limits (fewer than 100 sessions, under 10 GB of bandwidth, and under 10 hours of total connection time), you may qualify for a refund even after cancelling. Yafee recommends acting quickly-the sooner you submit your cancellation request, the sooner you reclaim your budget and your peace of mind.
Buffered VPN pricing and subscription plans in canada
Understanding your subscription tier helps you process your cancellation request accurately and calculate your refund eligibility based on Canadian pricing.
| Plan |
Price (CAD) |
Billing period |
Cancellation window |
| Monthly |
C$12.99 |
1 month |
Cancels at end of current billing month |
| 6-month plan |
C$9.99 per month (C$59.94 total) |
6 months |
Refund available within 30 days if usage limits met |
| 12-month annual plan |
C$8.25 per month (C$99.00 total) |
12 months |
Highest refund potential if cancelled within 30-day window |
| 2-year plan |
Approximately C$5.50 per month (C$132.00 total) |
24 months |
Refund available within 30 days if usage limits met |
The longer your commitment, the more you stand to reclaim if you cancel early and meet the refund conditions. Yafee recommends keeping your original receipt and subscription confirmation email as proof when requesting a refund.
Your consumer rights when cancelling in canada
Canadian consumer protection law establishes your legal position when you cancel a subscription service, and these protections apply to Buffered VPN even though the company may be based outside Canada.
Federal and provincial protections that apply
Under the Canadian Consumer Protection Act (federal jurisdiction) and equivalent provincial legislation (such as Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, 2002), you have the right to cancel a subscription service with clear notice and without penalty, provided you give reasonable written notice. Many provinces require companies to disclose cancellation procedures prominently at the point of sale. Furthermore, if Buffered VPN advertised a 30-day money-back guarantee, that guarantee constitutes a contractual term you can enforce.
Your legal position: You have the right to cancel your subscription by written notice. If the company fails to process your cancellation or continues charging after you cancel, you can file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority (for example, the Ontario Ministry of Government Services Consumer Protection Office, or equivalent in your province). Consequently, document every cancellation attempt and keep email confirmations.
The 30-day refund guarantee and usage limits
Buffered VPN offered a 30-day money-back guarantee, but that guarantee came with conditions. You qualify for a refund only if you meet all three usage limits simultaneously: fewer than 100 VPN sessions, under 10 GB of bandwidth consumed, and under 10 hours of total connection time. If you exceeded any one of these thresholds, the company could deny your refund request. Nevertheless, if you cancel outside the 30-day window, you can still request to cancel future charges-you simply forfeit the refund.
What happens to your data when you cancel
When you cancel, Buffered VPN stops charging your payment method and deactivates your account access. However, the company may retain connection metadata for audit and security purposes unless you explicitly request permanent data deletion. To request complete data removal, include a specific instruction in your cancellation email: "Please delete all personal data and connection records associated with this account in accordance with Canadian privacy law." This aligns with your rights under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) at the federal level.
How to cancel Buffered VPN step-by-step
Buffered VPN accepts cancellations exclusively through email support submitted via their ticket system. There is no phone cancellation line or postal address listed for subscription management, so email is your only channel.
Step 1: gather your account information
Before you submit your cancellation request, collect the following details:
- Your email address registered with Buffered VPN
- Your subscription ID (shown in your account dashboard or confirmation email)
- Your most recent invoice or receipt showing your plan and renewal date
- The date you subscribed (or the approximate date if you do not have the exact date)
- Your payment method (last four digits of card or PayPal account)
Having these details ready allows you to complete your request without delays and gives the support team everything they need to locate and process your cancellation immediately.
Step 2: log in to your Buffered VPN account
Visit the Buffered VPN website (or Encrypt.me if you subscribed after the 2026 merger). Click the "Log In" button and enter your registered email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" and follow the reset link sent to your email. Once you are logged in, you will see your dashboard with your account details and subscription status.
Step 3: navigate to the support and contact form
From your account dashboard, locate the "Support" or "Help" menu, usually at the bottom or top of the page. Click "Contact Us" or "Submit a Ticket." This opens the support ticket system where you will submit your cancellation request. Do not use general contact forms-use the ticket system so your request is logged, tracked, and assigned to a support agent automatically.
Step 4: complete the support ticket form
In the ticket form, fill in the following fields:
- Subject line: "Cancellation request for Buffered VPN subscription" or "Account cancellation and refund request"
- Category: Select "Billing" or "Account Management" if the form offers categories
- Email: Your registered account email address
- Message body: Include all your account details and a clear cancellation statement (see step 5)
Step 5: write your cancellation message
In the message body, write a clear, professional cancellation request. Use this template and adapt it to your situation:
"I am writing to request immediate cancellation of my Buffered VPN subscription effective today. My account email is [your email], and my subscription ID is [your subscription ID]. My current plan is [monthly/6-month/annual/2-year] at C$[amount]. I would like to cancel all future automatic renewals and request a refund of [reason, e.g., 'unused prepaid months' or 'within the 30-day money-back guarantee window']. Please confirm cancellation in writing and provide a refund timeline. Additionally, I request permanent deletion of all personal data and connection logs associated with this account in accordance with Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA). I can be reached at [your phone number] if you need to discuss this request."
Yafee recommends saving a copy of this message before you submit it so you have evidence of your request.
Step 6: submit the ticket and record the confirmation number
Click "Submit" or "Send Ticket." The system will display a confirmation number and send you an email confirmation with a ticket reference number. Copy this reference number and save it along with your message copy. You will use this number to follow up if the company does not respond within 5 business days.
Step 7: follow up if you do not receive a response
Buffered VPN (or Encrypt.me) should respond to your cancellation request within 3 to 5 business days. If you do not receive a response or a confirmation that your cancellation has been processed, reply to the ticket email using your reference number. State clearly: "This is a follow-up to support ticket [reference number] submitted on [date]. I have not received confirmation that my cancellation request has been processed. Please confirm immediately that my account has been cancelled and provide a refund timeline if applicable."
Understanding your refund eligibility and timeline
Your refund depends on when you cancel and how much of the service you used.
Refund scenarios and what you can expect
If you cancel within 30 days of your initial subscription date and stay within all three usage limits (fewer than 100 sessions, under 10 GB, and under 10 hours of connection time), you qualify for a full refund minus any payment processing fees that the company incurs. The refund will be processed to your original payment method (credit card or PayPal account) within 7 to 14 business days after the company confirms your cancellation. In some cases, credit card processors hold refunds for an additional 3 to 5 days before they appear in your account-this delay is not within Buffered VPN's control.
If you cancel after 30 days or if you exceeded any usage limit, you do not qualify for a refund. However, you can still request to cancel future charges, and the company must halt automatic renewals upon your written request.
What to do if your refund does not arrive
If 21 days have passed since the company confirmed your cancellation and you have not received your refund, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. Provide them with the cancellation email confirmation and the date the company confirmed your refund. Your bank can investigate the transaction and dispute the charge on your behalf if the refund was not processed. Simultaneously, send a follow-up email to Buffered VPN support referencing your ticket number and requesting evidence that the refund was issued (transaction ID, processing date). Yafee advises keeping all email correspondence for escalation to your provincial consumer protection authority if the company refuses to acknowledge the failed refund.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling
Cancelling a subscription is straightforward, but a few missteps can delay your refund or leave you vulnerable to continued charges. Take these precautions and you will protect your cancellation request.
Mistake 1: cancelling through the wrong channel
Many customers try to cancel by logging out of their account, deleting the VPN app, or sending messages to social media accounts. None of these methods work. Buffered VPN only recognizes cancellations submitted in writing through their official support ticket system. If you cancel any other way, the company will have no record of your request and will continue charging you at your next renewal. Always use the support ticket form at buffered.com or the Encrypt.me equivalent.
Mistake 2: failing to include account identification details
Support agents receive dozens of cancellation requests daily. If you do not include your subscription ID, email address, or payment method, your request will be delayed while the support team hunts for your account. Include all identifying details in your first ticket so the agent can locate you immediately and process your cancellation on the same day.
Mistake 3: not requesting data deletion explicitly
Cancelling your subscription does not automatically delete your personal data. If you want Buffered VPN to remove all connection logs and personal information, you must ask for it explicitly in your cancellation email. Reference PIPEDA and ask for confirmation that your data has been deleted. Otherwise, the company may retain your records indefinitely.
Mistake 4: missing the 30-day refund window
The 30-day money-back guarantee runs from your subscription start date, not from when you first use the service. If you subscribe, do not use the VPN intensively for 25 days, then try to cancel on day 31, you fall outside the refund window. Count your 30 days from the date your subscription was created, not from today. If you think you are close to the deadline, cancel now and ask for a refund-Yafee recommends erring on the side of caution.
Mistake 5: discarding your confirmation email
Always save the confirmation email you receive after submitting your cancellation request. That email contains your ticket reference number, which is your proof of cancellation. If the company later claims they never received your request, you can show them the ticket number and the system-generated confirmation. Delete nothing until your refund has arrived and 30 days have passed with no new charges.
What happens after you cancel Buffered VPN
Cancellation does not end immediately-several things happen over the following days and weeks, and knowing the timeline helps you stay on top of the process.
Immediately after cancellation is confirmed
Once the support team confirms your cancellation via email, your account access typically remains active until the end of your current billing period. For example, if you have a monthly subscription and you cancel on the 15th of the month, you can still use the VPN until the end of that month (the 30th or 31st). This grace period is standard across most VPN providers. You will not be charged again at the next renewal date.
VPN access expiration
On the first day of your next billing cycle (or at the end of your current period if you have a prepaid plan), your VPN access will be deactivated. You will no longer be able to connect to Buffered VPN servers. If you have not transferred to a replacement VPN service, install it before your cancellation takes effect so you do not experience a gap in protection.
Refund processing
If you qualify for a refund, the company will process it to your original payment method within 7 to 14 business days. Check your email for a refund confirmation that includes a transaction ID or reference number. Log into your bank or PayPal account to verify the refund has been received. Credit card refunds sometimes take an additional 3 to 5 days to appear because the card processor batches refunds daily.
Monitoring for unauthorized charges
For 60 days after your cancellation, monitor your bank or PayPal account for any unexpected charges from Buffered VPN, Encrypt.me, or the parent company. Occasionally, a refund is processed but the automatic renewal still fires-this is a technical failure, not intentional, but you must report it immediately. Contact your bank to initiate a chargeback dispute if unauthorized charges appear after cancellation. Simultaneously, email Buffered VPN support with your ticket reference number and bank statement showing the unexpected charge.
Comparing Buffered VPN with alternative VPN services
If you are cancelling because you want a different VPN service, this comparison shows how Buffered VPN's cancellation terms stack up against competitors available in Canada.
| VPN service |
Cancellation method |
Money-back guarantee |
Refund processing time |
| Buffered VPN (now Encrypt.me) |
Email support ticket only |
30 days with usage limits |
7-14 business days |
| ExpressVPN |
Online account dashboard + email |
30 days, no usage restrictions |
5-7 business days |
| NordVPN |
Online dashboard + support ticket |
30 days, no restrictions |
5-10 business days |
| CyberGhost |
Online dashboard + email |
45 days, no restrictions |
5-7 business days |
| Surfshark |
Online dashboard + support |
30 days, no restrictions |
5-10 business days |
Many competitors offer more flexible cancellation terms and unrestricted money-back guarantees, meaning you do not have to worry about usage limits. However, once you have cancelled Buffered VPN successfully, you can evaluate alternatives based on your privacy needs, server locations, and pricing.
Escalation if Buffered VPN refuses to cancel
In rare cases, a VPN provider may refuse to process your cancellation or delay indefinitely. If you encounter this problem, Yafee recommends following a structured escalation path.
Step 1: send a formal written cancellation notice
If standard support requests have not resulted in cancellation within 10 business days, send a formal notice via email with "FORMAL CANCELLATION NOTICE" in the subject line. Reference your original ticket number and state: "I am formally notifying Buffered VPN that I wish to cancel my subscription effective immediately, in accordance with the Canadian Consumer Protection Act. I request written confirmation of cancellation within 3 business days. Failure to comply may result in a complaint filed with my provincial consumer protection authority and a payment dispute with my financial institution."
Step 2: contact your provincial consumer protection authority
If the company does not respond or refuses to cancel, file a complaint with your provincial consumer protection agency. In Ontario, contact the Ministry of Government Services Consumer Protection Office. In British Columbia, contact the Office of the Consumer Protection Commissioner. In Alberta, contact the Fair Trading Act enforcement unit. Each province has equivalent authority. Provide your ticket number, email correspondence, and the date of your cancellation request. The government body will investigate and can compel the company to refund you if they find the company acted unfairly.
Step 3: dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company
Contact your bank or credit card issuer and request a chargeback (a reversal of the charge). Explain that you cancelled your subscription but the company continued charging you without authorization. Provide your cancellation request email and the confirmation it was not processed. Your bank can reverse up to 180 days of fraudulent charges while they investigate. This is your legal right under payment processor rules and banking regulations.
Step 4: consider small claims court or legal action
If the amount is significant and the company refuses to refund you after government intervention, you may pursue a small claims court action in your province. The cost is typically C$50 to C$200 in filing fees, and you can recover your costs if you win. Yafee recommends consulting a local legal aid clinic or lawyer if the amount exceeds C$1,000, as you may have grounds for a class action lawsuit alongside other affected customers.
Checklist: ensure your cancellation is complete
Use this final checklist to confirm you have completed every step and protected yourself throughout the process.
| Task |
Completed |
Notes |
| Gathered account information (email, subscription ID, invoice) |
☐ |
Save all documents |
| Submitted cancellation via official support ticket system |
☐ |
Record ticket reference number |
| Received confirmation email from support team |
☐ |
Save confirmation with ticket number |
| Requested data deletion in cancellation email |
☐ |
Ask for PIPEDA compliance confirmation |
| Verified no charges appear on next billing date |
☐ |
Monitor bank account for 60 days |
| Received refund if eligible (within 14 days of confirmation) |
☐ |
Check bank and PayPal for credit |
Summary and next steps
Cancelling Buffered VPN involves submitting a single email ticket through their support system with your account details and a clear cancellation request. You must cancel within 30 days of subscription if you want a refund and stayed within usage limits (fewer than 100 sessions, under 10 GB, and under 10 hours of connection time). Yafee has guided thousands of consumers through this process, ensuring they recover money owed and delete their data entirely.
Take action today: log into your Buffered VPN account, navigate to the support ticket form, and submit your cancellation request with the template provided in this guide. Save every confirmation email, monitor your bank account for 60 days, and escalate to your provincial consumer protection authority if the company fails to process your cancellation or refund within the stated timelines. Your data privacy and financial security depend on taking these steps immediately.
Yafee makes cancellation straightforward by connecting you with verified procedures, legal frameworks, and escalation routes. Whether you are cancelling because you found a better alternative or simply do not need the service anymore, Yafee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel subscriptions they no longer use and reclaim their money. Start your cancellation request now and regain control of your subscription and your budget.