How to cancel Carbonmade and protect your rights in new zealand

What Carbonmade is and why cancellation matters

Carbonmade is an online portfolio builder designed for creatives-photographers, designers, illustrators, and visual professionals-who want to showcase their work without building a website from scratch. The platform lets you upload images, videos, and media, arrange them into custom layouts, and share your portfolio with potential clients or employers within minutes.

The service operates on a subscription model with three main plans: Beginner (approximately NZ$17 per month), Professional (approximately NZ$25.50 per month), and Unlimited (approximately NZ$42.50 per month). Each tier offers different project limits, media quality support, and access to premium design blocks.

You might cancel Carbonmade if your creative work has moved to another platform, your project needs have shifted, the subscription cost no longer fits your budget, or you have encountered service issues. Whatever your reason, understanding your consumer rights and the cancellation process is essential. Yafee recognises that cancelling a subscription should be straightforward, and New Zealand consumer law protects you even when a company makes the process difficult.

Common reasons to cancel

Many creatives cancel after building their initial portfolio, discovering they no longer require the monthly fee. Others switch to competitors like Squarespace, Wix, or Adobe Portfolio. Some find that Carbonmade's feature set does not align with their growing business needs. At Yafee, we understand your reasons are valid, and we ensure you know exactly how to cancel without encountering hidden charges or misleading terms.

Why billing timing affects your cancellation

Carbonmade charges on a monthly billing cycle. If you cancel after your invoice is issued but before the next billing date, you will still owe that charge. Understanding the exact cancellation deadline before you proceed is critical to avoiding surprise charges on your bank statement.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

Your right to cancel a subscription service is protected under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, which apply to all online services sold to New Zealand consumers.

What the consumer guarantees act 1993 protects

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, Carbonmade must supply services with due care and skill, within a reasonable time, and fit for purpose. If the service does not meet these guarantees, you have the right to cancel and request a refund, even outside any stated cancellation window. The Commerce Commission enforces this legislation and investigates complaints from consumers who believe their rights have been breached.

If Carbonmade refuses to process your cancellation or withholds a refund you are entitled to, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz), which has the authority to investigate and take enforcement action.

Your legal position on cancellation

You have the right to cancel Carbonmade at any time. The company cannot force you to continue paying once you have submitted a valid cancellation request. If you have paid for a service period that has not yet begun, or if the service has not been supplied, you are entitled to a refund of the unused portion. Yafee advises that you document your cancellation with screenshots and save confirmation emails, as this evidence protects you if a dispute arises.

Carbonmade's refusal to acknowledge your cancellation request, delays in processing it, or continued billing after you have cancelled all constitute breaches of the Fair Trading Act and give you grounds to escalate to the Commerce Commission or seek redress through the Disputes Tribunal if the claim is under NZ$15,000.

Cancellation methods and step-by-step instructions

Cancelling Carbonmade is a straightforward online process that takes just a few minutes, but you must complete it before your next billing date to prevent a charge.

Cancel via the Carbonmade website

1. Open your web browser and navigate to carbonmade.com.
   • Sign in with your email address and password.
   • If you cannot remember your password, click the "Forgot password" link on the login page and follow the email reset instructions.
2. Locate your Account icon or menu, usually positioned in the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
   • Click on this icon to open your account settings.
3. Select "Account" from the dropdown menu, then navigate to the "Plan" or "Billing" tab.
   • You will see your current plan name, next billing date, and payment method on file.
4. Scroll down to find and click "Close Account" or "Cancel Subscription".
   • Carbonmade will display a confirmation message warning that account closure is permanent and your portfolio content will be deleted.
5. Confirm your cancellation by re-entering your password or clicking the final confirmation button.
   • The system will process your cancellation immediately.
6. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation message from Carbonmade within 24 hours.
   • Save this email as proof of your cancellation request.

Before you click cancel: critical warnings

Account closure is permanent and irreversible. Your entire portfolio, including all uploaded images, videos, text, and design blocks, will be immediately deleted and cannot be recovered. Carbonmade does not offer a grace period, archive option, or export function, so download or screenshot everything you want to keep before proceeding.

Cancelling your account does not automatically trigger a refund. You must request a refund separately if you believe you are entitled to one under consumer law. Yafee strongly recommends you contact Carbonmade's support team in writing (via email) within 7 days of cancellation to request a refund for any unused subscription period, citing the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 if the service has not been fully delivered.

Document your cancellation

Before you cancel, take screenshots of your current plan details, next billing date, and account status. After cancellation, save the confirmation email and note the exact date and time you submitted your cancellation request. This documentation is essential if you need to dispute a charge or lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission.

Pricing overview and billing cycles

Understanding Carbonmade's pricing structure helps you calculate what refund you may be entitled to if you cancel mid-cycle.

Carbonmade bills on a monthly cycle. Your payment is charged on the same day each month. If you cancel on day 15 of a 30-day billing period, you have used half the month and typically will not receive a refund for the remaining half, unless the service has not been supplied or does not meet guarantees under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Refund eligibility and how to claim

Your refund rights depend on when you cancel and whether the service has been fully delivered.

When you are entitled to a refund

You are entitled to a refund if: (1) you cancel before your first billing cycle completes and before you have made meaningful use of the service; (2) the service does not meet the guarantees under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (such as due care and skill, or fitness for purpose); (3) Carbonmade has failed to deliver the service you paid for; or (4) you have paid for a future billing period that has not yet commenced.

You are not automatically entitled to a refund if you cancel mid-cycle simply because you no longer want the service, unless you can demonstrate a breach of consumer law. However, Carbonmade may honour a refund request as a goodwill gesture if you contact them within 7 days of cancellation.

How to request a refund

1. Send a written email to Carbonmade's support team (via their website contact form or support email address).
   • State your full account email, the date you cancelled, and your cancellation confirmation number (if provided).
2. Clearly explain your reason for requesting a refund.
   • If the service did not meet guarantees, describe the specific issues (e.g., poor performance, unavailability, unmet features).
   • If you cancelled before using the service, state this clearly.
3. Reference the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986 in your email.
   • This signals that you understand your rights and take the matter seriously.
4. Request a response within 7 business days.
   • If Carbonmade does not respond, escalate to the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) with copies of your email and any responses.
5. If Carbonmade refuses your refund claim, lodge a complaint with the Disputes Tribunal (disputestribunal.govt.nz).
   • The Tribunal can award compensation up to NZ$15,000 if you can demonstrate a breach of consumer law.

Processing time and payment method

Carbonmade typically processes refunds within 5 to 10 business days. The refund will be credited to the original payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal). If you do not see the refund within this window, contact your bank or payment provider to confirm it has been initiated. Yafee recommends you keep all cancellation and refund correspondence for at least 12 months in case you need to escalate the matter later.

What happens after cancellation

Once your cancellation is processed, your Carbonmade account and all associated content are permanently removed from the platform's servers.

Portfolio access and portfolio recovery

Your portfolio website will become inaccessible immediately after cancellation. Any links you have shared with clients, employers, or on social media will return a "page not found" error. Carbonmade does not offer portfolio recovery or restoration, so this action is permanent. If you have shared your Carbonmade portfolio link publicly, clients may still attempt to access it, but they will encounter a broken link. Yafee advises you to update your resume, LinkedIn profile, and social media links with an alternative portfolio platform before cancelling.

Email notifications and billing confirmations

You will receive a cancellation confirmation email from Carbonmade. This email typically includes the cancellation date, your final account status, and confirmation that no further charges will be applied. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, check your spam folder or contact Carbonmade's support team to request a copy. Keep this email indefinitely, as proof of cancellation.

Your data and privacy

Carbonmade will delete your personal data (email, payment information, and portfolio content) within 30 days of account closure, in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. If you want confirmation that your data has been deleted, you can request this from Carbonmade's privacy team. However, you do not have the right to recover deleted portfolio content after cancellation.

Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them

Cancelling a subscription can feel stressful, but these frequent errors are easily preventable with a clear action plan.

Mistake 1: cancelling after the billing date

If you cancel after your next billing date, Carbonmade will charge you for the full month, and you will not receive a refund unless you can demonstrate a service failure. Always check your next billing date before you cancel. If you are unsure of this date, log into your account, navigate to your Plan settings, and note the exact date. Set a phone reminder for 2 days before this date to cancel in time.

Mistake 2: failing to save your portfolio before closure

Once your account closes, your entire portfolio is permanently deleted. There is no grace period, no archive, and no recovery option. Before cancelling, download high-resolution versions of all your images and videos, take screenshots of your layout and design, and save any text descriptions. Store these files on your computer or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) so you can upload them to a new platform if needed.

Mistake 3: not requesting a refund in writing

Cancelling your account does not automatically trigger a refund. You must contact Carbonmade in writing (via email) to request one, clearly stating your reason and citing the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Yafee emphasises that verbal requests or messages sent via social media are not sufficient proof. Always send a formal email to Carbonmade's support address and keep a copy of your email and their response.

Mistake 4: ignoring confirmation and follow-up

After you cancel, confirm that Carbonmade has processed your request by checking that your portfolio is no longer accessible and that you receive a cancellation confirmation email. If you continue to see charges on your credit card statement after 30 days, contact your bank immediately and provide them with proof of cancellation. Do not assume the charge is an error; follow up with Carbonmade directly and request a formal refund.

Mistake 5: not escalating if the company refuses

If Carbonmade ignores your cancellation request or denies your refund claim without valid reason, do not give up. Lodge a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) or the Disputes Tribunal (disputestribunal.govt.nz). These agencies have the power to investigate and compel refunds if Carbonmade has breached consumer law.

Comparing Carbonmade to alternative portfolio platforms

If you are cancelling Carbonmade because it no longer meets your needs, these alternatives may better suit your workflow.

Before switching, verify that your chosen platform allows you to download and export your portfolio content. This ensures you are not locked into a vendor if you need to cancel in future. Yafee recommends you export your portfolio from any platform at least once every 12 months as a backup.

Cancellation checklist and final steps

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel Carbonmade correctly and protect your interests.

• Step 1: Log into your Carbonmade account and note your next billing date.
• Step 2: Download all portfolio images, videos, and design content to your computer or cloud storage.
• Step 3: Take screenshots of your account settings, plan details, and next billing date as proof.
• Step 4: Update your LinkedIn profile, resume, and social media links with an alternative portfolio URL.
• Step 5: Navigate to Account > Plan and click "Close Account".
• Step 6: Confirm the cancellation by re-entering your password when prompted.
• Step 7: Save the cancellation confirmation email you receive from Carbonmade.
• Step 8: Send a written refund request email to Carbonmade within 7 days, citing the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
• Step 9: If no response within 7 business days, lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission or Disputes Tribunal.
• Step 10: Monitor your bank statement for the next 60 days to confirm no further charges appear.

Contacting Carbonmade and escalation routes

If you cannot locate Carbonmade's cancellation settings or encounter technical issues, you have the right to contact their support team directly.

Carbonmade customer support

Carbonmade does not provide a dedicated New Zealand customer service line. All support requests must be submitted through their website contact form or support email. Yafee advises you to email Carbonmade's support team with your cancellation request and refund claim. Ensure your email clearly states your full account email, the date you wish to cancel, and references the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

Carbonmade's parent company is Element6, LLC, a US-based entity. The company's only physical address is their United States office, which means New Zealand consumers must rely on email support and the protections of New Zealand consumer law. If Carbonmade refuses to process your cancellation or fails to respond to your refund request within 14 days, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission.

Escalation with the commerce commission

If Carbonmade refuses to cancel your account, withholds a refund you are entitled to, or ignores your cancellation request, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz). The Commission has the authority to investigate breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986 and can compel refunds or service corrections. Complaints are free, and the process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.

Disputes tribunal claims

If your dispute involves a claim under NZ$15,000, you can file a claim with the Disputes Tribunal (disputestribunal.govt.nz). The Tribunal can award compensation for losses caused by Carbonmade's failure to cancel your account or refund eligible charges. This route is faster and less formal than small claims court.

Final summary and next steps

Cancelling Carbonmade is a straightforward process, but understanding your consumer rights under New Zealand law ensures you are not surprised by charges or denied refunds you are entitled to. Yafee has guided thousands of New Zealand consumers through subscription cancellations, and we emphasise that your rights are protected even when a company operates from overseas or makes the process difficult.

To cancel, log into your Carbonmade account, navigate to Account settings, select your Plan, and click "Close Account". Download all your portfolio content before you proceed, as this action is permanent. Document your cancellation with screenshots and save the confirmation email. If you are entitled to a refund-because you cancelled before the billing cycle completed, or because the service did not meet guarantees-contact Carbonmade in writing within 7 days and cite the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

If Carbonmade ignores your request, contact the Commerce Commission or lodge a claim with the Disputes Tribunal. Your consumer rights in New Zealand are strong, and these agencies have successfully compelled refunds from overseas service providers in thousands of cases. Yafee is committed to helping you understand these rights and navigate cancellation with confidence. Visit yafee.com to learn more about your entitlements and for step-by-step guides to cancelling other subscription services in New Zealand.