How to cancel Breakthrough Guitar and reclaim your subscription fees in new zealand

What is Breakthrough Guitar

Breakthrough Guitar is an online guitar-teaching platform that delivers structured video lessons, practice routines, and membership access to instructional content for learners of all skill levels. The service operates primarily through its web portal and mobile applications available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, allowing you to learn on desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

The platform targets self-taught musicians and beginners who seek guided progression beyond free YouTube tutorials. The structured curriculum promises clear lesson sequencing and practice frameworks designed to accelerate your development as a guitarist.

Who subscribes to Breakthrough Guitar

The service appeals to casual learners wanting accountability and direction, as well as to musicians who have progressed beyond absolute beginner stage but lack formal training. User feedback varies considerably: some subscribers report genuine progress through the course material, whilst others find the teaching style too basic or discover the lessons become repetitive after the initial modules.

Common reasons for cancellation

New Zealand subscribers typically cancel Breakthrough Guitar because the content does not align with their current playing level, they lose motivation after early enthusiasm wanes, they discover unexpected charges on their payment method, or they find alternative platforms better suited to their learning style. Whatever your reason for considering cancellation, you have clear legal rights under New Zealand consumer law, and Yafee specialises in helping subscribers navigate this process efficiently.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

New Zealand consumer protection law provides you with strong rights when cancelling digital subscriptions. The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986 apply to all goods and services, including online education platforms like Breakthrough Guitar.

What the consumer guarantees act protects

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, any service you purchase must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose, and delivered as promised. If Breakthrough Guitar fails to meet these standards-for instance, if the video lessons do not load properly, the teaching method does not suit your skill level, or the content is substantially different from its marketing description-you have grounds to request cancellation and a refund.

Crucially, the law presumes that services must be fit for purpose for at least three months from purchase, unless you agreed otherwise in writing. If you cancel within this period and the service is genuinely deficient, the onus falls on Breakthrough Guitar to prove the service was acceptable.

Fair trading act protections against misleading conduct

The Fair Trading Act 1986 prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct in trade. If Breakthrough Guitar uses unclear billing language, hides renewal charges, makes false claims about teaching outcomes, or makes cancellation deliberately difficult, the company breaches this Act. You can report such conduct to the Commerce Commission.

Your legal position: You do not need to provide a reason to cancel, provided you follow the correct cancellation procedure. If the company refuses to process your cancellation or continues charging after you have requested to cancel, escalate immediately to the Commerce Commission via comcom.govt.nz.

Escalation to the commerce commission

If Breakthrough Guitar ignores your cancellation request, continues to charge your payment method after you have cancelled, or uses deceptive practices, contact the Commerce Commission's consumer complaint team. The Commission investigates unfair business practices and can compel refunds and corrective action on your behalf. Retain all evidence-emails, account screenshots, payment statements, and support message logs-before escalating, as this documentation significantly strengthens your case.

How to cancel Breakthrough Guitar on the web

Cancelling through the Breakthrough Guitar website is the most direct method and generates immediate written proof of your cancellation request. Follow these steps to cancel your subscription online.

Step 1: log into your account

Visit breakthroughguitar.com and log in using your email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, select the "Forgot Password" link to reset it before proceeding. Ensure you use the correct email address associated with your subscription.

Step 2: navigate to your subscription settings

Once logged in, locate your account settings, usually found in the top right corner under your profile name or in a settings menu. Look for links labelled "Account", "My Account", or a gear icon. Some platforms house subscription management in a dedicated "Billing" or "Membership" section.

Step 3: find the subscription management section

Within account settings, select "Manage Subscriptions", "Active Subscriptions", or a similar option. This section displays your current subscription status, renewal date, and billing details. You should see the next billing date and the amount you are being charged.

Step 4: initiate cancellation

Select the "Cancel Subscription" button or link next to your active subscription. The platform may present a retention offer-a discounted rate or bonus content-to persuade you to continue. If you are certain about cancelling, decline this offer and proceed with the cancellation request.

Step 5: confirm and save your cancellation confirmation

Review the on-screen confirmation message and select "Confirm Cancellation" or "Yes, Cancel My Subscription". Once confirmed, the platform should display a confirmation number or message stating your subscription has been cancelled. Immediately take a screenshot or print this confirmation, as you will need it as evidence if you need to escalate your complaint.

How to cancel Breakthrough Guitar via the mobile app

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel through those platforms rather than through the Breakthrough Guitar website. App Store subscriptions are managed separately and require cancellation directly with Apple or Google.

Cancelling on apple app store (iOS)

Open the Apple App Store app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Subscriptions". Find Breakthrough Guitar in your active subscriptions list, tap it, and select "Cancel Subscription". Confirm the cancellation. Apple will send you a confirmation email; retain this email as proof of cancellation.

Cancelling on google play store (Android)

Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device. Tap your profile icon in the top right, then select "Manage Your Google Account". Go to the "Subscriptions" tab, find Breakthrough Guitar, and tap "Cancel Subscription". Confirm your cancellation. Google will send a confirmation email to your account; save this email for your records.

Refunds and what to expect after cancellation

Understanding the refund timeline and what happens after you cancel prevents frustration and ensures you know when to follow up if funds are not returned promptly. Yafee assists consumers in tracking refunds and escalating when companies delay payment.

Refund eligibility and timeframes

If you cancel within a reasonable period after purchase-typically the first 30 days, though New Zealand law does not specify an exact window-you have a strong claim for a full refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act. If you cancel after 30 days but the service is genuinely unfit for purpose, you may still be entitled to a refund or partial refund, depending on the circumstances.

If Breakthrough Guitar has already charged you for a renewal period after you submitted your cancellation request, you have grounds to request a refund of that renewal charge. Retain your cancellation confirmation date as evidence of when you submitted your request.

Expected timeline for refund processing

Once you have cancelled, Breakthrough Guitar typically processes refunds within 5 to 10 business days. However, your bank may take a further 3 to 5 business days to credit the funds to your account. In total, expect the refund to appear in your account within 10 to 15 business days of cancellation confirmation.

If a refund does not appear after 15 business days, contact Breakthrough Guitar's support team with your cancellation confirmation number and request a status update. If the company does not respond within 5 working days or refuses to issue a refund, escalate to the Commerce Commission with your evidence.

What happens to your access after cancellation

Immediately after you cancel, Breakthrough Guitar will disable your access to course content, practice routines, and member-only resources. Some platforms allow a grace period of a few hours; others cut access instantly. Take screenshots of any course material you wish to reference after cancellation, as you will lose the ability to view these resources once your subscription ends.

Pricing and subscription costs

Understanding what you are paying helps determine whether cancellation is the right decision and whether you have been charged incorrectly. Review the table below to see typical Breakthrough Guitar subscription tiers.

If you enrolled on a monthly plan, you may be charged between 14 and 30 days depending on your sign-up date. If you enrolled on an annual plan, you will be charged once yearly; cancelling mid-year may result in a pro-rata refund if you cancel within the first three months and the service is unfit for purpose.

Common mistakes when cancelling Breakthrough Guitar

Cancelling a subscription should be straightforward, but many New Zealand consumers make avoidable errors that delay their refunds or lose their cancellation proof. Take care to avoid these pitfalls.

Mistake 1: assuming a pause is a cancellation

Some platforms offer a "pause subscription" feature that temporarily suspends billing without cancelling your account. If you select pause instead of cancel, your subscription will resume and you will be charged again after the pause period ends. Always explicitly select "cancel" or "cancel subscription" to permanently end your account.

Mistake 2: not saving your cancellation confirmation

Failing to screenshot or print your cancellation confirmation leaves you without proof if a dispute arises. Immediately after cancellation, take a screenshot displaying the confirmation number, date, and message stating your subscription has been cancelled. Save this image to your computer and email it to yourself as a backup.

Mistake 3: contacting customer support verbally instead of in writing

Cancelling via phone call or live chat creates no written record of your request. Consequently, if Breakthrough Guitar claims you never cancelled, you have no evidence. Always submit your cancellation request through the website or app, where the platform automatically generates a time-stamped record. If you must contact support, follow up with a written email reiterating your cancellation request and referencing any verbal discussion.

Mistake 4: overlooking hidden auto-renewal terms

Some subscription services automatically renew unless you cancel within a specific window (often 3 to 7 days before the renewal date). If you cancel after this window closes, you will be charged for the next period. Check your original confirmation email or account settings to identify your renewal date, and cancel well in advance of that date.

Mistake 5: ignoring renewal charges after cancellation

If you are charged after you have cancelled, do not ignore the charge. Contact Breakthrough Guitar immediately with your cancellation confirmation number and demand a refund. If the company refuses, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission within a reasonable timeframe. Yafee encourages you to act quickly, as delayed complaints may weaken your position.

Frequently encountered traps and how to avoid them

Beyond straightforward mistakes, Breakthrough Guitar and similar platforms sometimes employ practices that make cancellation difficult or unclear. Understanding these traps protects you and helps you respond effectively.

Trap 1: buried cancellation links

Some platforms deliberately hide the cancellation option deep within account settings to discourage users from cancelling. If you cannot find a "Cancel Subscription" button after checking all account menus, email Breakthrough Guitar's support team directly and request cancellation in writing. In your email, cite the Fair Trading Act 1986 and note that deliberately obscuring cancellation options constitutes deceptive conduct.

Trap 2: deceptive retention offers presented as part of cancellation

When you initiate cancellation, Breakthrough Guitar may present steep discounts or bonus content to persuade you to stay. These offers are legitimate as long as they are genuinely optional. However, if the platform presents a discount as a requirement to cancel (for example, "Cancel only if you agree to this 50 percent discount"), this is unfair conduct under the Fair Trading Act. Decline all retention offers and proceed with cancellation regardless.

Trap 3: no clear cancellation date stated

Reputable services confirm exactly when your access will end after cancellation (for instance, "Your subscription will be cancelled effective 15 December 2024"). If Breakthrough Guitar does not clearly state your cancellation date, send a follow-up email requesting written confirmation of the exact date your subscription ends. This prevents any ambiguity about when you can expect refunds or loss of access.

After you have cancelled: what to do next

Cancellation is not the end of your responsibility; monitoring the outcome ensures the company complies with your request and you receive any refund owed. Yafee recommends following these post-cancellation steps.

Monitor your next billing cycle

If you cancelled before your next renewal date, watch your payment method carefully on that date to confirm you are not charged. If a charge appears after you have cancelled, this is evidence of non-compliance. Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately and dispute the charge if necessary.

Track your refund status

If you cancelled during a billing period and are entitled to a pro-rata refund, create a calendar reminder for day 10 after cancellation to check your account balance. If the refund has not arrived by day 15, escalate to Breakthrough Guitar with your cancellation confirmation and payment records.

Keep all documentation for three months

Retain your cancellation confirmation, refund confirmation (once received), payment statements, and any support correspondence for at least three months. If a dispute arises later, this documentation proves compliance by both you and the company.

Comparison with alternative learning platforms

If you are considering cancelling Breakthrough Guitar because the teaching method or content does not suit you, exploring alternatives may help. The table below compares Breakthrough Guitar with other popular guitar-learning platforms available in New Zealand.

Contact information and escalation address

If Breakthrough Guitar does not respond to your cancellation request or refuses to process cancellation, use the following address for formal written complaint. According to user reports and public records, Breakthrough Guitar has an address in Puerto Rico; however, you should escalate unresolved complaints to the New Zealand Commerce Commission rather than attempting postal contact abroad.

Escalate via the commerce commission

File a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission if Breakthrough Guitar refuses to cancel your subscription or continues charging after cancellation. Visit comcom.govt.nz or contact the Commission by post at:

Commerce Commission
Level 15, 99 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Include your cancellation confirmation, payment records, and all correspondence with Breakthrough Guitar. The Commission typically responds within 10 working days and can investigate breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986 and Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

Dispute resolution through your bank

If Breakthrough Guitar continues to charge your payment method after cancellation, contact your bank or credit card provider and dispute the charge as unauthorised. Provide your cancellation confirmation as evidence. Your bank will investigate and may reverse the charge within 5 to 10 working days, protecting you whilst the Commerce Commission investigates the underlying complaint.

Summary and next steps

Cancelling Breakthrough Guitar is a straightforward process provided you follow the correct procedure: log in, navigate to your subscription settings, select cancel, and save your confirmation. New Zealand consumer law-specifically the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986-protects your right to cancel and obtain refunds if the service is unfit for purpose.

If the platform refuses to process your cancellation or continues charging after you have cancelled, you have a clear escalation path via the Commerce Commission. Yafee has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers navigate subscription cancellations and recover erroneous charges, and your situation is straightforward provided you document each step and escalate promptly if the company does not comply.

Take action today: log into your Breakthrough Guitar account, navigate to subscription settings, and confirm your cancellation. Save your confirmation immediately, monitor your next billing cycle, and do not hesitate to escalate to the Commerce Commission if you encounter any delay in refunds or continued charges. Yafee is here to guide you through every step of this process.