How to cancel Showmax in malaysia: a legal guide to stop recurring charges
What is Showmax and why you might want to cancel
Showmax is a subscription streaming service owned by the MultiChoice group, offering films, series, and sports content on a recurring monthly basis. For Malaysian subscribers, Showmax operates as a paid membership with no minimum lock-in period, meaning you can cancel at any time-but you must take active steps to stop the charges.
The service charges your chosen payment method automatically each month until you cancel through the same channel you used to subscribe. If you signed up via the Showmax website, App Store, or Google Play, your cancellation route depends on that original billing method. Understanding this distinction is crucial: many Malaysian users accidentally continue paying because they attempted to cancel through the wrong platform.
Showmax subscription plans available in malaysia
Showmax offers tiered plans with different device access and screen-sharing limits. The table below shows the current plan structure, pricing in Malaysian ringgit, and key features:
| Plan name |
Monthly price (RM) |
Device access |
Screens at once |
Content scope |
| Entertainment Mobile |
RM14 |
Mobile only |
1 |
Films, series |
| Entertainment All Devices |
RM24 |
Web, mobile, TV apps |
2 |
Films, series |
| Premier League Mobile |
RM19 |
Mobile only |
1 |
Sports, football |
| Entertainment + Premier League |
RM38 |
Web, mobile, TV apps |
2 |
Films, series, sports |
If you no longer watch the content regularly, or if the subscription no longer fits your budget, cancellation immediately stops future charges-but only if you complete the process through the correct billing channel.
When cancellation takes effect
Under Malaysian consumer protection law, specifically the Consumer Protection Act 1999, you have the right to cancel a recurring service. However, Showmax's terms specify that cancellation typically becomes effective at the end of your current billing cycle. You retain access until that date, after which your account enters a cancelled state. Yafee recommends taking a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation to prove the date you requested cancellation, as this protects you if a disputed charge appears on your next billing statement.
Your legal position and consumer rights in malaysia
Malaysian consumer law grants you specific protections when dealing with subscription services like Showmax.
Consumer protection act 1999 and recurring services
The Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999) prohibits unfair contract terms and establishes your right to cancel ongoing services. Under this framework, a subscription service provider must honour your cancellation request and cease charging you within a reasonable timeframe-normally by the end of the current billing cycle. The law shifts responsibility to the service provider to prove they gave you clear, transparent terms before you subscribed.
Showmax's Terms of Use acknowledge this obligation. If the company continues to charge you after you have cancelled, or if they refuse to process your cancellation, you can escalate the complaint to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN, formerly Ministry of Consumer Affairs) or file a claim with the Tribunal for Consumer Claims if the amount is within the tribunal's jurisdiction.
Your legal position
You have the statutory right to:
- Cancel your Showmax subscription at any time with no early-termination penalty or lock-in clause.
- Receive a written or digital confirmation of your cancellation request.
- Stop all recurring charges at the end of your current billing cycle.
- Request a refund if you are charged after you have cancelled, and escalate to KPDN or the Tribunal for Consumer Claims if Showmax refuses.
- Hold Showmax liable under the CPA 1999 if the company fails to honour your cancellation within 30 days of your request.
This means Yafee's position is straightforward: you are not locked in, you are not obliged to provide a reason, and Showmax must stop charging you. If they do not, the law provides a clear enforcement route.
Cancellation methods: which route to use
Your cancellation method depends on where your billing relationship exists-with Showmax directly, or with Apple, Google, or another third-party billing agent.
Method 1: cancel via the Showmax website (direct subscriptions)
If you subscribed directly through Showmax.com and pay with a credit card, debit card, or other direct payment method, you cancel through your account settings on the Showmax website. This is the primary cancellation channel endorsed in Showmax's official help documentation and is the most straightforward route for Malaysian subscribers.
Method 2: cancel via app store (iPhone and iPad)
If you subscribed inside the Showmax app on iPhone or iPad, and Apple bills you directly, you cancel through Apple's subscription management system, not through Showmax. The Showmax app itself does not provide a cancellation button; instead, you manage the subscription in your device settings.
Method 3: cancel via google play (Android devices)
If you subscribed inside the Showmax app on Android, and Google bills you, you cancel through the Google Play Store subscription manager. Like Apple, Google holds the billing relationship and controls cancellation. Yafee advises Android users to understand this clearly: stopping the app does not stop the charge.
Method 4: email cancellation (backup and disputes)
Showmax's Terms of Use permit cancellation by email to [email protected] or by registered post to offices in South Africa, Nigeria, or the United Kingdom-not Malaysia. This method is slower but creates a documented trail. Use this route if the website, App Store, or Google Play methods fail, or if you need legal evidence of cancellation for a billing dispute.
Step-by-step cancellation process
Follow these precise steps for your specific subscription method to ensure Showmax stops charging you.
Step 1: gather your account information
Before you cancel, collect and save evidence of your subscription and billing history.
- Log in to your Showmax account (or open your device settings if you subscribed via App Store or Google Play).
- Note your current plan name and next billing date.
- On the Showmax website: visit "My Account" or "Settings" and look for the subscription summary.
- On App Store: open Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Showmax.
- On Google Play: open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, select Subscriptions, find Showmax.
- Take a screenshot of the subscription page showing the plan, amount, and billing date.
- Save your latest payment receipt or bank statement line showing the charge.
- Write down today's date-this is your cancellation request date for future reference.
Step 2: cancel via the Showmax website
If you subscribed directly on Showmax.com, use this method to cancel immediately.
- Visit Showmax.com and log in with your email and password.
- Click on your account menu (usually in the top-right corner or under "My Account").
- Select "Subscription" or "Billing" settings.
- Look for a "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription" button.
- Click "Cancel Subscription" and confirm the cancellation on the next screen.
- Showmax may offer a discount or pause option as a retention strategy-ignore these if you are certain you want to cancel.
- You may be asked to rate your experience or give feedback; this is optional.
- Continue until you see a final confirmation message saying your subscription has been cancelled or will be cancelled at the end of the current billing cycle.
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation page.
- Close the browser or app.
Step 3: cancel via apple app store (iPhone and iPad)
If you subscribed through the Showmax app on Apple devices, you must cancel through Apple, not Showmax.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Select "Subscriptions."
- Find and tap "Showmax" in the list of active subscriptions.
- Tap "Cancel Subscription."
- If you see "Free Trial" remaining, tapping cancel will end the trial and you will not be charged.
- If you see a paid subscription, cancelling will stop the renewal at the end of the current billing period.
- Confirm the cancellation on the prompt that appears.
- You will see a message confirming the cancellation date (typically the end of your current cycle).
- Take a screenshot of this confirmation.
Step 4: cancel via google play store (Android)
If you subscribed through the Showmax app on Android, you must cancel through Google Play, not Showmax.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Select "Payments and subscriptions."
- Tap "Subscriptions."
- Find and tap "Showmax" in the active subscriptions list.
- Tap "Cancel Subscription."
- Google will display a confirmation screen showing your cancellation effective date.
- You may see retention messages offering discounts or free months-decline these if you are certain.
- Confirm the cancellation by tapping "Yes, cancel subscription."
- Screenshot the final confirmation.
Step 5: cancel by email (if digital methods fail)
If you cannot cancel through the website, App Store, or Google Play, or if you need a documented trail for a dispute, cancel by email to establish proof.
- Open your email client and compose a new message to [email protected].
- Use a subject line such as: "Cancellation request for Showmax account [your email address]"
- In the body, include:
- Your full name as it appears on the Showmax account.
- The email address associated with the account.
- Your current subscription plan name.
- Your next billing date (from the screenshot you saved earlier).
- A clear statement: "I request cancellation of my Showmax subscription effective immediately or at the end of the current billing cycle, whichever is standard policy. Please confirm receipt and the cancellation date in writing."
- Send the email and save a copy in your email folder or take a screenshot of the sent message.
- Await a response from Showmax help confirming cancellation; this typically arrives within 5-7 business days.
- If no response arrives after 7 days, escalate to KPDN (see the "Enforcement and escalation" section below).
What happens after you cancel
Understanding the post-cancellation timeline protects you from unexpected charges and helps you enforce your rights if Showmax breaches its obligation.
Immediate effects of cancellation
Once you have completed the cancellation steps above-whether via website, App Store, Google Play, or email-your status changes within Showmax's system. You retain full access to the service and content until the end of your current billing cycle. After that date, your account enters a "cancelled" state and you cannot log in. Crucially, no new charge will be applied to your payment method on or after that date if the cancellation was processed correctly.
Check your next billing statement
Monitor your bank account, credit card statement, or payment app for 5-10 days after your billing date has passed. You should see no new Showmax charge. If a charge appears, this indicates an error or refusal by Showmax to honour your cancellation. Document this immediately by saving a screenshot of the unexpected charge and checking your email for any receipt from Showmax or the payment processor.
Verify access has ended
After your billing cycle ends, attempt to log in to your Showmax account. You should see a message such as "Your subscription has been cancelled" or "Subscription expired." If you can still access content after the stated cancellation date, contact Showmax immediately at [email protected] with a screenshot showing the account still has access, as this suggests the cancellation did not register.
Refunds and billing errors after cancellation
Malaysian consumer law and payment processor rules provide pathways to recover money if Showmax charges you after cancellation.
Refund eligibility under consumer law
Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, you are entitled to a refund of any charges applied after you have cancelled, provided you can prove the cancellation request. The law does not require Showmax to refund charges within your current paid cycle (you retain access until the cycle ends), but any charge after the cancellation date or the end of the cycle is a recoverable overcharge.
Yafee advises that the strength of your claim depends on documentary evidence: screenshots of the cancellation confirmation, proof of the unexpected charge, and email receipts all support your case.
How to request a refund from Showmax
- Email [email protected] with the subject: "Refund request for unauthorized charge on [date]."
- Include:
- Your Showmax account email.
- A screenshot of your cancellation confirmation (from the website, App Store, or Google Play).
- A screenshot of the unexpected charge on your bank statement, credit card, or App Store/Google Play receipt.
- The date you cancelled and the date the charge appeared.
- A clear statement requesting a full refund and confirming you did not authorize the charge.
- Send the email and keep a copy.
- Yafee recommends waiting 10 business days for Showmax's response before escalating further.
Escalate to your bank or payment processor
If Showmax does not refund you within 14 days, or if the company disputes your cancellation claim, contact your bank or the payment processor and file a chargeback or dispute claim.
- Credit/debit card: Call your bank and explain that you cancelled the subscription but were charged after cancellation. Provide the screenshots and email correspondence. Your bank can reverse the charge (chargeback) if the evidence supports your account.
- App Store: Open App Store settings, find your purchase history, report the Showmax charge as "Unauthorized" or "Problem with subscription," and request a refund. Apple typically processes these within 5-7 days.
- Google Play: Open Google Play Store, find the Showmax charge in your order history, click "Report a problem," and select the reason (e.g., "Subscription was cancelled but I was charged"). Google usually responds within 3-5 business days.
Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them
Most Malaysian subscribers who face continued charges made one of these errors-but they are all preventable with the right approach.
Mistake 1: cancelling through the wrong channel
The single most common error is attempting to cancel via the Showmax website if you subscribed through App Store or Google Play, or vice versa. The billing system does not sync across these platforms. If you subscribed on Apple, you must cancel on Apple; if on Google, cancel on Google. Cancelling on the "wrong" platform appears to succeed but leaves your subscription active with the original billing agent, who will continue to charge you.
Prevention: Remember which app store or website you used when you first subscribed. Check your email for the original order confirmation-it will say "Apple," "Google," or "Showmax" depending on the billing agent. Use that same channel to cancel.
Mistake 2: assuming deletion or uninstalling the app stops charges
Many users delete the Showmax app from their phone and assume the subscription ends. This is false. The app and the subscription are separate-uninstalling the app does not touch the billing relationship with Apple, Google, or Showmax. Your subscription continues to renew and charge until you explicitly cancel it through the subscription management system.
Prevention: Always cancel the subscription first (using the steps above), then delete the app if you wish. Cancellation is the irreversible step; deletion is optional.
Mistake 3: not saving cancellation proof
Users who do not take screenshots of their cancellation confirmation face a much harder time proving cancellation to KPDN, their bank, or a tribunal if a dispute arises. Showmax may claim no cancellation was received, or your bank may refuse the chargeback without evidence.
Prevention: Before closing any cancellation page or email, take a screenshot showing the confirmation message, date, and your account details. Store these screenshots on your phone or computer, or email them to yourself for safekeeping. Yafee strongly recommends this step as the cheapest form of insurance against billing disputes.
Mistake 4: ignoring post-cancellation charges
Some users notice an unexpected charge after cancellation but assume it is a glitch and do not report it. Weeks later, they see multiple charges and realize Showmax continued billing them. The longer you wait, the harder it is to prove the cancellation request date and recover all overcharges.
Prevention: Check your bank statement 3-5 days after your cancellation date. If any Showmax charge appears, contact Showmax and your bank immediately. The faster you report it, the faster you recover it.
Pricing overview and cancellation timing
Your cancellation timing affects your final billing charge. Understanding this helps you plan your cancellation to minimize waste.
| Scenario |
Your access |
Your final charge |
Cancellation action |
| You cancel on day 1 of a 30-day cycle |
Access for full 30 days |
RM14-RM38 (paid in full) |
Cancel immediately; you get the month's use |
| You cancel on day 28 of a cycle |
Access for 2 remaining days |
RM14-RM38 (no refund for unused 2 days) |
Cancel when you decide; no refund issued |
| You cancel, then are charged again |
None after cancellation |
Overcharge is refundable |
Request refund immediately; escalate to KPDN |
| You cancel and see "no charge" next cycle |
Access until end of current cycle |
No new charge applied |
Cancellation was successful; monitor bank account |
The key takeaway: Showmax does not issue refunds for unused time within the current billing cycle. You pay for the cycle in full and retain access until it expires. Your only refund right is for charges that occur after your cancellation request and the end of your cycle.
Enforcement and escalation if Showmax refuses
If Showmax does not honour your cancellation or refuses to refund an overcharge, the Consumer Protection Act 1999 provides a clear escalation path.
Step 1: document the breach
Collect all evidence showing that you cancelled and Showmax violated its obligation:
- Screenshots of your cancellation confirmation (from the website, App Store, or Google Play).
- The date you cancelled (noted in your records).
- Screenshots of unexpected charges on your bank or payment app after your cancellation date.
- Email correspondence with Showmax (your cancellation request email, their response or lack thereof, and your refund request).
- Your bank statement showing the charge and any chargeback or dispute claim reference numbers.
Step 2: file a complaint with the ministry of domestic trade and cost of living (KPDN)
If Showmax continues to ignore you or refuses to refund, submit a formal complaint to KPDN (Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup). KPDN is the Malaysian enforcement body responsible for the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and has the power to compel Showmax to refund and impose penalties.
Visit the KPDN website or your nearest KPDN office and file a formal complaint. Include all your evidence. Yafee advises that KPDN complaints are free and do not require a lawyer. KPDN typically responds within 30-60 days.
Step 3: file a claim with the tribunal for consumer claims
If your claim is within the jurisdiction limit (generally up to RM25,000 for simple consumer disputes), you can file a claim at your nearest Tribunal for Consumer Claims. This tribunal has power to order Showmax to refund you plus interest and costs. You do not need a lawyer, and filing fees are minimal (typically under RM100).
KPDN can also refer your case to the tribunal if the complaint process does not resolve the issue.
Should you cancel or keep your Showmax subscription
A practical checklist to help you decide whether cancellation is the right choice.
| Reason to keep Showmax |
Reason to cancel |
Middle-ground option |
| You watch films or series regularly (2+ times per week). |
You have not logged in for 2+ months. |
Pause your subscription for 1 month (if Showmax offers this feature). |
| You have Premier League or sports content you want to follow live. |
You subscribed for a specific show that has ended. |
Use the free trial when new content drops; cancel immediately after. |
| The cost fits your budget and entertainment value is high. |
The RM14-RM38 monthly charge no longer fits your finances. |
Switch to a cheaper plan (e.g., Entertainment Mobile at RM14). |
| You share the subscription with family and all benefit. |
You subscribed on impulse or no longer use it. |
Check if anyone else in your household uses it before cancelling. |
If more boxes on the "cancel" side apply to you, follow the cancellation steps above. If you are uncertain, pause or downgrade rather than cancel, and revisit the decision in 30 days. Yafee recommends treating subscription cancellation as a deliberate choice, not a reactive one.
Showmax does not maintain a Malaysian office or support phone line. All formal cancellation and disputes must be directed to the channels below.
Primary support contact
Email: [email protected]
Use this address for all cancellation requests, refund claims, and account disputes. Allow 5-7 business days for a response. If you receive no response after 7 days, your email did not reach them-resend it and escalate to KPDN simultaneously.
Registered office addresses (from Showmax terms of use)
Showmax operates through regional entities. If email fails, you can send a cancellation notice by registered post to:
- South Africa office: Showmax, MultiChoice House, 145 Main Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg 2191, South Africa.
- United Kingdom office: Showmax, 1 Stephen Street, London W1T 1AL, United Kingdom.
- Nigeria office: Available on Showmax.com (specific address varies).
Registered post to any of these addresses creates a legally documented cancellation request. Keep the proof-of-posting receipt. This method is slower (10-15 business days) but provides ironclad evidence if you later dispute the subscription with KPDN or a tribunal.
KPDN complaint (if Showmax breaches consumer law)
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-88-5050 (toll-free)
Website: www.kpdn.gov.my
File a formal complaint if Showmax continues to charge you after cancellation, or refuses to refund an overcharge. Include all evidence and the date you first attempted cancellation. KPDN has enforcement power and can compel Showmax to refund and pay penalties.
Final summary and next steps
Cancelling Showmax in Malaysia is straightforward if you follow the correct procedure for your billing channel and document every step. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, you have the absolute right to cancel at any time with no lock-in or early-termination fee. Showmax must stop charging you at the end of your current billing cycle, and any charge after that date is a breach of law that you can recover through your bank, KPDN, or the Tribunal for Consumer Claims.
The three critical actions are: (1) cancel through the correct channel (Showmax website for direct subscriptions, App Store for iPhone, Google Play for Android); (2) take screenshots of the confirmation; and (3) monitor your next billing statement to confirm no new charge appears. If an unwanted charge does appear, report it to your bank and KPDN immediately with your cancellation proof.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel recurring subscriptions without further charges by following these exact steps, and by equipping them with the legal framework to escalate disputes if the company refuses to comply. Your consumer rights are backed by Malaysian law, and they are enforceable. If you are ready to cancel, log in to your account or device now and follow the step-by-step guide for your subscription method. Yafee's resources and this guide have given you the knowledge to do it correctly and protect yourself from post-cancellation billing errors.