How to cancel Medium and stop charges in malaysia: your complete legal guide

What Medium is and why you might want to cancel

Medium is an online publishing platform where you pay for unlimited access to member-only articles, audio narrations, and offline reading. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Medium operates under U.S. law and processes subscriptions globally, including from Malaysia. The platform charges recurring monthly or annual membership fees, billed on the anniversary of your signup date.

You may want to cancel for several reasons: you no longer read enough articles to justify the cost, you prefer free alternatives, or you signed up by mistake. Whatever your reason, understanding your cancellation options under Malaysian consumer law protects your rights and ensures you stop being charged.

Medium membership tiers and what you pay

Medium offers two primary paid tiers. The standard tier, Medium Member, costs USD 5.00 (approximately RM 24) per month or USD 50.00 (approximately RM 236) per year. The premium tier, Friend of Medium, costs USD 15.00 (approximately RM 71) per month or USD 150.00 (approximately RM 708) per year. Both tiers unlock the same core features; the Friend tier provides additional support for writers you follow.

Yafee specialists have observed that most Malaysian users subscribe to the standard Medium Member plan on a monthly basis, then forget about the recurring charge until their card is billed again. The key detail is this: your renewal date matches your signup date. If you subscribed on 12 March, Medium will attempt to charge you again on 12 April, 12 May, and so on, unless you cancel before that date.

Why Medium has no local support address in malaysia

Medium does not maintain a registered office, support centre, or postal address in Malaysia. The company operates exclusively online and handles all customer service through its web-based help centre and email. This matters because if you need to escalate a dispute, you will contact Medium's U.S. headquarters, not a local agent.

Yafee advises Malaysian subscribers to note that Medium's only published mailing address is a P.O. Box in San Francisco for copyright notices. For cancellations and billing disputes, you must use the in-app cancellation process or contact Medium's support team via its help portal at help.medium.com.

Your legal rights as a malaysian consumer

Your right to cancel Medium rests on Malaysian consumer protection law and Medium's own terms of service. Understanding both strengthens your position if Medium refuses to honour your cancellation or continues to charge you.

The consumer protection act 1999 and your cancellation rights

Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999) protects you against unfair contract terms and requires suppliers to cancel services promptly when you request cancellation. Section 130 of the CPA 1999 specifically addresses the supply of services and requires suppliers to perform services with due care and skill within a reasonable time.

Furthermore, Schedule 2 of the CPA 1999 lists unfair contract terms. A term requiring you to continue paying after you have cancelled would be presumed unfair and thus unenforceable. Medium's terms of service acknowledge this protection and state that your membership will end at the end of your current billing cycle when you cancel.

Your legal position: You have the right to cancel Medium at any time, and your membership must terminate at the end of your current billing period. Medium cannot force you to pay for future billing cycles if you have cancelled. If Medium charges you after cancellation, you can lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (MDTCCL), which enforces the CPA 1999.

What medium's terms promise you

Medium's terms of service state that cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. This means you retain full access until that date, then your membership lapses automatically. Medium does not offer refunds for partial months or years, so if you cancel mid-cycle, you lose the remaining unused time.

Medium also reserves the right to terminate your account if you breach its terms (for example, by posting content that violates its policies). However, you retain the unilateral right to cancel for any reason at any time.

How to cancel Medium: step-by-step by platform

Cancellation steps depend on which platform processed your subscription: the Medium website, Apple App Store, or Google Play. Yafee has identified the correct path for each, so you can cancel without confusion.

Cancel Medium if you subscribed directly on the website

If you signed up on Medium.com using your email or social login, follow these steps to cancel your membership.

1. Open Medium.com and log in with your email or social account
   • Use the same email address and password you used to create your account
   • If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot password?" on the login page
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner
   • On mobile, this may appear as a menu icon (three horizontal lines)
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu
   • Scroll down to find Settings if it is not visible immediately
4. Locate the Membership and payments section
   • You will see your current plan name and next billing date here
5. Click Cancel your membership
   • Medium will ask you to confirm your cancellation and may offer a discount to stay
   • Select the option to proceed with cancellation
6. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation page
   • This confirms that Medium has recorded your cancellation request
   • Save this confirmation for your records

Yafee recommends cancelling at least 24 to 48 hours before your next billing date. This gives you time to verify that the cancellation was processed and to contact Medium if something appears wrong.

Cancel Medium if you subscribed through apple app store

If you pay for Medium via Apple (on iPhone, iPad, or Mac), you must cancel through Apple's subscription management system, not within the Medium app.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
   • On Mac, open System Preferences instead
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen
   • This opens your Apple ID profile
3. Tap Subscriptions
   • If you do not see Subscriptions, tap Media and Purchases first, then Subscriptions
4. Find and tap Medium
   • You will see your plan, next renewal date, and price
5. Tap Cancel subscription
   • Apple will ask you to confirm cancellation
   • Select Confirm to complete the process
6. Screenshot the confirmation screen showing "subscription cancelled"
   • Apple sends a confirmation email; save this as well

Do not delete the Medium app after cancelling. Your account and any saved stories remain accessible as long as you can log in. Cancelling the subscription only removes the paid features; it does not delete your account.

Cancel Medium if you subscribed through google play

If you pay for Medium via Google Play on an Android phone or tablet, you must manage your subscription through Google Play, not within the Medium app.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device
   • Tap your profile icon in the top right corner
2. Tap Manage my subscriptions
   • This opens a list of all active subscriptions on your account
3. Select Medium from the list
   • You will see your plan details and next billing date
4. Tap Cancel subscription
   • Google will ask you to confirm and may offer a special offer to keep you subscribed
5. Select the option to proceed with cancellation
   • Google will ask for your reason (optional)
6. Screenshot the confirmation page
   • Google sends a confirmation email; save this also

Yafee emphasises that if you subscribed through Google Play, Medium cannot cancel your subscription for you. You must do it through Google Play directly. Medium's app cannot access your Google Play billing settings.

What happens after you cancel Medium

Once you cancel, Medium will honour your request, but understanding the post-cancellation timeline prevents confusion and unexpected charges.

Your access during and after the cancellation period

Your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, not immediately. If your next billing date is 15 May and you cancel on 10 May, you retain full access until 15 May. On 15 May at 00:00 UTC, Medium will not attempt to charge you, and your membership will lapse.

After your membership lapses, you can still access your Medium profile and any public stories you have written, but you cannot read member-only articles. If you return to Medium later and wish to resubscribe, you can do so at any time and will be charged a full month or year from that date.

Checking that your cancellation was processed

Visit your Medium account settings one week after your planned cancellation date. If the Membership and payments section no longer shows an active subscription, your cancellation was successful. If it still shows your plan as active, contact Medium's support team immediately.

Check your bank or credit card statement 3 to 5 business days after your next billing date was supposed to occur. If you see no charge from Medium, your cancellation worked. If you are charged despite cancelling, request a refund from Medium and escalate to your bank if needed.

Refunds and what you are entitled to

Medium does not offer refunds for partial subscription periods. Once you have paid for a month or year, that payment is final. If you cancel on 20 May and your billing cycle runs from 12 May to 12 June, you lose the 23 days remaining in that cycle.

The only exception is if you live in a jurisdiction with a mandatory cooling-off period (such as the European Union's 14-day right of withdrawal). Malaysia's CPA 1999 does not impose a mandatory cooling-off period for digital services, so Medium is not obliged to refund you if you change your mind after purchase.

However, if Medium charged you after you cancelled, or if you can demonstrate that a charge was fraudulent or unauthorised, you have the right to request a refund. Contact Medium's support team with proof of your cancellation request and your bank statement showing the erroneous charge.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling Medium is straightforward, but a few missteps can leave you confused or charged unexpectedly. Here is how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: deleting the Medium app instead of cancelling your subscription

Deleting the Medium app does not cancel your subscription. If you signed up through Apple or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms, not by removing the app. Many users make this mistake and are surprised by a charge weeks later.

Mistake 2: cancelling only through Medium, not through apple or google play

If you subscribed through Apple or Google Play, cancelling within the Medium app (if that option even appears) does not stop Apple or Google from billing you. Medium and Apple/Google maintain separate billing systems. You must cancel with the payment platform that charged you originally.

Mistake 3: cancelling on your billing date instead of before it

If you cancel on the exact day your subscription renews, the system may process your renewal charge before your cancellation takes effect. Yafee advises cancelling at least two business days before your renewal date to ensure the cancellation is processed in time.

Mistake 4: not saving your cancellation confirmation

Always screenshot or save the confirmation page you receive after cancelling. If Medium later claims they have no record of your cancellation, this screenshot is your proof and can help you recover an erroneous charge through your bank or the MDTCCL.

If Medium charges you after cancellation

If you cancelled Medium but were still charged, take immediate action to recover the money and stop future charges.

Step 1: contact medium's support team

Email Medium support through help.medium.com with your cancellation confirmation and the transaction receipt. Explain that you cancelled before the charge date and request an immediate refund. Medium typically responds within 5 to 10 business days.

Step 2: dispute the charge with your bank

If Medium does not respond or refuses to refund you, contact your bank or credit card issuer. Request a chargeback or reversal, citing that you cancelled the subscription before the charge was processed. Provide your bank with your cancellation screenshot and Medium's confirmation email (if available).

Step 3: lodge a complaint with the MDTCCL

If your bank does not resolve the issue, file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living at www.kpdnkk.gov.my. Include your cancellation evidence, bank records, and all correspondence with Medium. The MDTCCL can compel Medium to refund you and may impose penalties if Medium has violated the CPA 1999.

Pricing comparison and when to cancel

Understanding Medium's pricing structure helps you decide whether to cancel or stay subscribed.

* Based on approximately 31 articles per month (1 per day). Your actual cost per article varies depending on your reading frequency.

When to keep your Medium subscription

Keep your subscription if you read three or more Medium articles per week, rely on Medium for professional research or industry news, or genuinely want to support writers you follow. At RM 24 per month, Medium Member averages to less than RM 1 per article if you are a regular reader.

When to cancel your Medium subscription

Cancel if you read fewer than two Medium articles per month, prefer free alternatives like LinkedIn or Substack, or rarely access the paid features. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions they no longer use, freeing up RM 24 to RM 71 per month for better value elsewhere.

Your cancellation checklist

Use this checklist to ensure your cancellation is complete and protects you from future charges.

• Write down your next Medium billing date (found in your account settings)
• Identify which platform you used to subscribe: web, Apple App Store, or Google Play
• Follow the cancellation steps for your platform (see sections above)
• Screenshot the cancellation confirmation screen immediately
• Save any confirmation email Medium or your payment platform sends you
• Wait until one week after your next billing date would have occurred
• Check your Medium account settings to confirm no active subscription is listed
• Check your bank or credit card statement to confirm no charge appeared
• If a charge appeared, follow the dispute steps in the section above

Getting help with your Medium cancellation

If you encounter problems cancelling Medium, you have several support routes.

Medium's help centre

Visit help.medium.com and search for "cancel membership" or "manage subscription". Medium's knowledge base includes step-by-step guides for all platforms and payment methods.

Your bank or payment platform support

If you subscribed through Apple or Google Play, contact Apple Support or Google Support respectively. They can confirm your subscription status and process cancellations if Medium's system is unresponsive.

Consumer protection escalation in malaysia

If Medium refuses to honour your cancellation or continues to charge you, file a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (MDTCCL) at www.kpdnkk.gov.my. The MDTCCL enforces the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and can compel foreign suppliers to comply with Malaysian consumer rights.

Summary and next steps

Cancelling Medium takes minutes once you know the correct path. Your subscription will end at the close of your current billing period, and you will not be charged again unless you manually resubscribe. Remember: if you subscribed through Apple or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms, not within the Medium app.

Take your cancellation confirmation screenshot, check your account one week later, and verify that no charge appears on your bank statement. If Medium charges you after cancellation, escalate to your bank or the MDTCCL immediately. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel Medium and other recurring subscriptions, recover erroneous charges, and reclaim control of their spending. Your consumer rights in Malaysia are strong, and companies like Medium must respect them.

Medium's contact address (U.S. headquarters)

For copyright notices and formal legal correspondence:

Medium
Designated Agent
P.O. Box 391

San Francisco, CA 94104
United States

Note: Medium does not maintain a local address in Malaysia. All customer service and billing inquiries must be directed through help.medium.com or your payment platform (Apple, Google Play).