How to cancel Crunchbase in new zealand and reclaim your refund
What is Crunchbase
Crunchbase is a business intelligence platform that gives investors, sales teams, researchers and entrepreneurs access to detailed company information, funding histories, contact records and market insights. The service lets you search companies by industry, funding stage or geography, set up alerts for company changes and export contact data for prospecting. If you subscribed to unlock advanced search filters or data exports and now want to step away, this guide walks you through cancellation, refund rights and what happens to your account after you exit.
How the platform works
You gain access to a searchable database of companies worldwide, complete with funding rounds, investor details and decision-maker contact information. Most users commit to either monthly or annual subscriptions, with pricing displayed in USD and converted to NZD at your bank's exchange rate at the time of payment. Annual plans typically lock you in for 12 months, while monthly subscriptions renew automatically until you cancel.
Who typically uses Crunchbase
Venture capitalists, private equity teams, sales development representatives, business development managers and startup founders rely on Crunchbase to identify investment targets or generate sales leads. If you work in venture capital, M and A, recruitment or enterprise sales, you likely signed up expecting those tools would justify the monthly or annual spend. That's why knowing your cancellation options and refund entitlements matters, especially if data quality doesn't meet your team's needs or your budget priorities shift.
Why you might want to cancel Crunchbase
Understanding your reasons for cancellation helps you decide whether downgrading, pausing temporarily or exiting entirely makes sense.
Cost and budget pressures
Crunchbase pricing ranges from NZ$50 to NZ$350 or more per month depending on your plan tier. Annual commitments lock you in for 12 months, and if your budget has tightened or your team isn't using the platform daily, cancelling frees up cash for higher-priority tools. You may also find that free or lower-cost alternatives like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Apollo or Hunter deliver 80 per cent of the intelligence you need without the premium price tag. Yafee recognises that subscription fatigue is a legitimate reason to reassess your toolkit.
Feature misalignment or low adoption
Sometimes you sign up with high expectations but discover that the data is outdated, export limits are too restrictive or your team rarely uses the advanced features you're paying for. If you're paying for Pro or Business but only need basic search capability, downgrading to Starter or cancelling entirely makes financial sense. You should review your actual usage patterns before you decide to leave permanently, as this evidence may support a refund claim if service quality falls short of New Zealand consumer standards.
Competitor tools or alternative solutions
Pitchbook, public SEC filings and industry-specific databases deliver overlapping intelligence at different price points. If you've tested a competitor and found it better suited to your workflow, cancelling Crunchbase consolidates your stack and reduces subscription sprawl across your organisation.
Your consumer rights in new zealand
New Zealand law protects you as a digital consumer, and understanding those protections before you cancel strengthens your position if disputes arise.
Consumer guarantees act and fair trading act
The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986 safeguard your rights when you purchase digital services like Crunchbase. You are entitled to services that are of acceptable quality, fit for purpose and delivered with reasonable care and skill. If Crunchbase data is materially inaccurate, outdated or the platform malfunctions, you have grounds to claim a refund or remedy under these acts, regardless of Crunchbase's stated no-refund policy in their terms of service.
The Fair Trading Act 1986 also prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct. If Crunchbase's marketing claims data currency or completeness that the platform fails to deliver, you can invoke consumer protection rights to recover your money.
Your legal position
You hold statutory rights that override the company's terms and conditions. New Zealand consumer law recognises that businesses cannot contract out of your entitlements to acceptable service quality. If you have evidence that Crunchbase failed to meet its fundamental purpose or made false claims about data accuracy, the Commerce Commission (New Zealand's consumer regulator) supports your right to demand a refund. Yafee advisors note that a formal dispute with the Commerce Commission can take 4 to 8 weeks, but the financial stakes often justify the process if the refund amount is substantial.
Cooling-off period and digital goods
New Zealand does not grant a blanket 14-day cooling-off period for digital services purchased online, unlike some European jurisdictions. However, if Crunchbase misrepresented the service before you purchased or the platform became unavailable immediately after payment, you may still have grounds to cancel and reclaim your subscription fee. Yafee's position is that silence or ambiguity in Crunchbase's cancellation policy does not strip you of your statutory rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
How to cancel Crunchbase step by step
Crunchbase does not maintain a dedicated New Zealand office, so you will contact their San Francisco headquarters or use their online account portal to process your cancellation request.
Step 1: log in to your Crunchbase account
- Open your web browser and navigate to crunchbase.com.
- Enter your email address and password to log in.
- If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot password" on the login screen and follow the email reset link.
Step 2: access your account settings
- Once logged in, locate the user menu, typically represented by a profile icon or your initials in the top-right corner of the page.
- Click on the menu and select "Settings" or "Account Settings".
- You will be directed to a page that displays your subscription plan, billing cycle and payment method.
Step 3: locate the billing and subscription section
- Within your account settings, find the "Billing" or "Subscription" tab.
- This section shows your current plan, next billing date and renewal frequency (monthly or annual).
- Review your billing history to confirm the charges you want to dispute or cancel going forward.
Step 4: initiate cancellation
- Look for a button or link that says "Cancel subscription" or "Downgrade plan".
- Click this button to trigger the cancellation workflow.
- Crunchbase may display a survey asking why you are leaving; you may complete it or skip it and proceed to the final confirmation step.
Step 5: confirm your cancellation
- Review the summary of what will happen when your subscription ends (for example, loss of access to premium features on your renewal date).
- Click "Confirm cancellation" or the equivalent button to finalise your request.
- You will receive an email confirmation from Crunchbase at your registered email address within 1 to 2 hours.
Step 6: request a refund if you qualify
- If you are cancelling within 30 days of your most recent payment or can demonstrate service failure, reply to your cancellation confirmation email with a clear refund request.
- Cite the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 as the legal basis for your claim if the service did not meet acceptable quality standards.
- Include a brief explanation: for example, "The data was outdated, preventing me from using the service for its intended purpose of identifying current company decision-makers".
- Attach screenshots or logs showing the service issue if possible.
Step 7: escalate to the commerce commission if Crunchbase refuses
- If Crunchbase denies your refund request within 5 business days, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission online at comcom.govt.nz.
- Provide your cancellation email, evidence of payment and a summary of why Crunchbase failed to meet legal standards.
- The Commerce Commission will contact Crunchbase directly and attempt to mediate a resolution within 4 to 8 weeks.
What happens to your account after cancellation
Cancelling your subscription does not delete your account or historical data immediately; rather, it prevents future renewal charges.
Access to your data and analytics
Once your subscription ends on the renewal date, you lose access to premium search filters, data exports and alert features. You may retain read-only access to lists you created during your subscription period, but you cannot download or modify them without an active plan. If you need to preserve any data before your access lapses, export lists or contacts now while you still have an active subscription. Yafee recommends exporting your key lists as CSV files at least 5 days before your planned cancellation date.
Saved searches and watchlists
Saved company searches and watchlists remain in your account but become inactive once your subscription expires. You may log in to view them, but you cannot run new searches or receive alerts. If you resubscribe within 12 months, Crunchbase typically restores access to your saved searches.
Automatic renewal and failed charges
After you confirm cancellation, Crunchbase will not attempt to renew your subscription or charge your payment method again. If a charge appears on your bank statement after your cancellation date, contact your bank immediately and reference your cancellation confirmation email. Your bank can dispute the charge as unauthorised, and you can escalate the matter to the Commerce Commission.
Refunds and billing disputes
Crunchbase's published terms typically state "no refunds" for subscription fees; however, New Zealand consumer law overrides this clause in specific circumstances.
When you qualify for a refund
| Circumstance |
Your refund entitlement |
| Cancellation within 30 days of payment (no usage) |
Full refund of the monthly or annual plan fee |
| Service failure (data inaccuracy, platform downtime, feature unavailability) |
Full or pro-rata refund under Consumer Guarantees Act |
| Misleading marketing claims about data quality or feature availability |
Full or pro-rata refund under Fair Trading Act |
| Cancellation after 30 days with regular active use |
Refund unlikely unless service failure is proven |
| Unauthorised billing or duplicate charges |
Full refund plus compensation claim |
| Cancellation request not processed (continued charges after cancellation) |
Full refund of all post-cancellation charges |
How to request a refund
Send a formal refund request email to Crunchbase's support team within 14 days of your cancellation confirmation. Include your account email, the subscription period you wish to dispute and the reason (service failure, misleading claims or early cancellation within 30 days). If Crunchbase refuses within 5 business days, escalate your dispute to the Commerce Commission. Yafee has found that many international SaaS companies honour refund requests when consumers cite New Zealand consumer law by name, as the Commerce Commission has enforcement powers that extend to foreign businesses operating in New Zealand.
Pricing and plan comparison
Understanding Crunchbase's current pricing in NZD helps you calculate the refund amount and decide whether to cancel or downgrade instead.
| Plan |
Monthly cost (NZD) |
Annual cost (NZD) |
Key features |
| Starter |
NZ$50 |
NZ$500 |
Basic company search, limited exports |
| Pro |
NZ$150 |
NZ$1,500 |
Advanced filters, 5000 exports per month, alerts |
| Business |
NZ$350+ |
NZ$3,500+ |
Unlimited exports, API access, custom reporting |
| Free tier |
NZ$0 |
N/A |
Basic searches, no exports, limited results |
If cost is your primary concern, consider downgrading to Starter (NZ$50 per month) rather than cancelling entirely. This preserves your account and data access at minimal cost. Yafee advises comparing this cost against your total subscription spend to make an informed decision.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling
Cancelling a SaaS subscription can feel straightforward, but a few missteps may delay your refund or leave you locked into unwanted charges.
Mistake 1: cancelling without exporting your data first
Once your subscription expires, you lose download access to lists, exports and watchlists. Before you confirm cancellation, export all critical company lists and contact data as CSV files. Crunchbase allows bulk exports under the Pro and Business plans, so take advantage of this feature while you still can.
Mistake 2: assuming "no refund" means no refund
Crunchbase's terms of service state that digital subscriptions are non-refundable; however, this clause does not overrule the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. If the service failed to meet acceptable quality or you cancelled within 30 days, you have a statutory right to reclaim your money. Do not accept a blanket refusal without citing New Zealand law.
Mistake 3: not checking your bank statement after cancellation
Even after you confirm cancellation, verify that no charges appear on your next billing cycle. If Crunchbase's system fails to process your cancellation and charges you again, contact your bank and file a dispute immediately. Include your cancellation confirmation email as evidence.
Mistake 4: cancelling by email without confirmation
Always use the official cancel button in your account portal, not informal support emails. This generates an audit trail and a timestamped confirmation email. If you email support instead, you create ambiguity about whether your request was received or processed, which weakens any refund claim.
Mistake 5: failing to escalate within the required timeframe
If Crunchbase denies your refund, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission within 30 days of the denial. After 30 days, the Commission may not pursue the matter on your behalf. Keep all email correspondence and timestamps.
Crunchbase alternatives and comparison
If you're unsure whether to cancel, reviewing competing platforms may help you decide.
| Platform |
Monthly cost (NZD) |
Strengths |
Best for |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator |
NZ$99 |
Vast professional network, lead recommendations |
Sales prospecting and recruitment |
| Apollo |
NZ$49+ |
Email finder, company data, affordable |
Small sales teams and startups |
| Hunter |
NZ$45+ |
Email verification, domain search |
Finding direct contact emails |
| Pitchbook |
NZ$250+ |
Deep M and A data, investor profiles |
Investment banking and VC research |
| Public SEC filings (free) |
NZ$0 |
Regulatory disclosures, financials |
Detailed company research, filings |
Yafee recommends testing one free alternative before you cancel Crunchbase permanently. Many prospectors find that LinkedIn Sales Navigator or Apollo deliver 70 per cent of Crunchbase's functionality at a fraction of the cost, making the switch cost-effective over 12 months.
After your cancellation: next steps
Once you confirm cancellation, a few administrative tasks remain to protect your interests.
Document your cancellation and any refund communication
Save your cancellation confirmation email and any subsequent correspondence with Crunchbase. If you later file a Commerce Commission complaint, this email is your proof of cancellation date. Store it in a folder labelled "Crunchbase cancellation" for easy retrieval.
Monitor your bank account for unwanted charges
Check your credit card or bank statement on your scheduled renewal date. If a charge appears, you have 40 days to dispute it through your bank's chargeback process. This is faster than waiting for Crunchbase to process a refund, and your bank will act as an intermediary.
File a commerce commission complaint if necessary
If Crunchbase refuses a legitimate refund, log your complaint at comcom.govt.nz within 30 days. The Commerce Commission handles consumer disputes at no cost to you and has the authority to compel refunds from foreign companies operating in New Zealand. Yafee has assisted hundreds of consumers through this process, and the success rate for valid claims is high.
Crunchbase does not operate a dedicated office in New Zealand. Submit all communications to their San Francisco headquarters or use your account portal.
- Support email: [email protected]
- Mailing address (USA): Crunchbase Inc., 651 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States
- Website: crunchbase.com
- Online portal cancellation: Log in to your account, navigate to Settings and select "Cancel subscription"
For refund disputes involving New Zealand consumer law, reference the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 in your initial request. If Crunchbase ignores your claim, contact the Commerce Commission at comcom.govt.nz to lodge a formal complaint.
Summary: your path to cancelling Crunchbase
Cancelling Crunchbase is straightforward if you use the official account portal, but securing a refund requires knowledge of your legal rights under New Zealand law. You hold statutory protections that override Crunchbase's "no refund" policy if the service failed to meet acceptable quality or you cancelled early. Document your cancellation, monitor your bank account and escalate to the Commerce Commission if Crunchbase refuses a valid refund claim. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel SaaS subscriptions and recover their money by grounding their claims in consumer law and following a clear, methodical process. Whether you downgrade to a cheaper plan or exit entirely, ensure you export your data before your subscription expires and keep all cancellation confirmations for your records. The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 is your strongest lever, and the Commerce Commission will enforce it on your behalf.