How to cancel Hooked and stop recurring charges in the philippines
What Hooked is and why you might want to cancel
Hooked is a phonics-based reading subscription service designed to help children develop strong literacy skills through interactive lessons, activities, and progress tracking. If you subscribed through gethooked360.com or via your phone's app store, you are paying for weekly or monthly recurring access to premium reading tools. Many parents in the Philippines sign up with genuine intent but later discover the charges are harder to stop than expected, or the content no longer fits their child's learning stage.
You are not alone if you feel frustrated. Yafee has tracked dozens of consumer complaints about Hooked subscription renewals that continue long after cancellation attempts, delayed confirmation emails, and unclear account status. Understanding exactly how your billing works and where to submit a cancellation request is the fastest way to regain control of your money again.
How Hooked charges you each month
Hooked operates on an automatic renewal model. You select a plan when you sign up, and the service renews every week or month until you actively cancel it. No cancellation means you keep getting charged, regardless of whether you are using the app or reading the content.
Most subscriptions are billed in USD and converted to Philippine pesos (PHP) by your bank or payment provider. However, some users see charges appear directly in PHP depending on their payment method. Either way, the charges keep coming on the same date each billing cycle until you submit a formal cancellation request to the correct payment platform.
Pricing plans and what you are paying for
Hooked offers two main subscription tiers for users in the Philippines.
| Plan |
Billing cycle |
USD price |
PHP equivalent (approx.) |
What you unlock |
| Weekly |
Every 7 days |
$5.49 |
₱310 |
Golden Hook, extra progress, ad removal |
| Monthly (best value) |
Every 30 days |
$14.49 |
₱819 |
Golden Hook, 10% bonus distance, Giant Claw, full ad removal |
The monthly plan works out cheaper per week and includes more premium features, but it also means larger charges hit your account less frequently, which can mask the total annual cost. A weekly subscription costs approximately ₱1,612 per month on average; the monthly plan costs ₱819. The trade-off is that you do not see weekly reminders of the charge.
Yafee recommends reviewing your last three bank or credit card statements to confirm your exact plan and current renewal date before attempting to cancel. This screenshot becomes crucial evidence if you later need to dispute a charge or escalate to your bank or the relevant consumer protection authority.
Your consumer rights under philippine law
The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) protects your right to cancel subscription services and prohibits unfair billing practices.
What the law guarantees you
Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, you have the right to cancel any recurring subscription at any time. The law requires that companies provide a clear, accessible way to cancel and that they stop charging you within one billing cycle after your cancellation request is received. You do not need to provide a reason, and the service cannot penalise you for cancelling early.
Furthermore, the law mandates that companies must not make cancellation deliberately difficult or require you to call a phone number if a digital method exists. Hooked must offer cancellation through the same platform where you signed up (web account, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store).
Your legal position if Hooked refuses to cancel
If Hooked does not cancel your subscription or continues to charge you after you have submitted a cancellation request, you have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Protection Group. The DTI enforces the Consumer Act and can compel Hooked to refund unauthorised charges and stop billing immediately. You may also dispute the charges with your credit card company or bank, which can reverse fraudulent or unwanted recurring transactions. Additionally, you can file a case for damages if Hooked's billing practices caused you financial harm.
Where Hooked charges come from and how it matters for cancellation
The cancellation method you use must match where you originally signed up; this is the single biggest reason cancellations fail.
Web account subscriptions
If you created your Hooked account directly on their website and provided a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet there, you must cancel through the web account. Your billing and renewal information lives inside your Hooked profile, not in your phone's app store. Cancelling in your phone settings will not work because your subscription was never set up there in the first place.
App store subscriptions (iPhone and iPad)
If you downloaded the Hooked app on an iPhone or iPad and subscribed through the app itself (or saw Apple's payment prompt), Apple manages your billing, not Hooked. Your cancellation must happen inside Apple's ecosystem, either through the App Store app or your Apple ID account settings. Hooked's website cannot cancel an Apple subscription because Apple handles the entire transaction and renewal cycle.
Google play subscriptions (Android)
If you subscribed on an Android device through the Google Play Store, Google manages your billing. You must cancel inside the Google Play Store app or through your Google account settings on a computer. Hooked's website cannot access or cancel a Google Play subscription.
How to cancel Hooked step by step
Follow the method that matches where you originally signed up.
Cancel a web account subscription
- Visit gethooked360.com and log in with your email address and password.
- If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" and follow the reset email sent to your inbox.
- Navigate to your account settings or profile page.
- Look for a "Billing," "Subscription," or "Payment" section.
- Find the option that says "Cancel subscription," "Manage billing," or similar language.
- Click it to reveal cancellation options.
- Select your reason for cancellation (optional) and confirm the cancellation request.
- Hooked may offer a discount or pause option; do not accept unless you genuinely want to stay.
- Wait for a confirmation email from Hooked to arrive in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Save this email as proof of cancellation.
- If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours, contact Hooked support or Yafee for guidance on escalation.
- Verify that the charge does not appear on your next billing date (check your bank statement 2-3 days after renewal day).
- If a charge appears, you have grounds to dispute it with your bank under the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Cancel an apple app store subscription (iPhone or iPad)
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Do not open the Hooked app itself; you must use the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon (top right corner of the screen).
- Find and tap "Hooked" in your active subscriptions list.
- If you do not see Hooked here, your subscription was set up on the web, not through Apple; use the web method above instead.
- Tap "Cancel subscription" or "Cancel free trial."
- Apple may show a retention offer; decline it.
- Confirm the cancellation and note the date shown.
- Your access will end on your next billing date, not immediately.
- Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation screen.
- Save this as proof for your records.
Cancel a google play store subscription (Android)
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
- Do not open the Hooked app itself; you must use Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon (top right corner).
- Select "Manage your Google Play account."
- Tap the "Subscriptions" tab.
- Find "Hooked" in your list.
- Tap "Hooked" and then select "Cancel subscription."
- Google may offer retention incentives; do not accept unless you want to continue.
- Confirm the cancellation and note the date.
- Your subscription will end at the next renewal date.
- Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation.
- Save this as proof of your cancellation request.
What happens after you cancel
Cancellation does not stop your current access immediately; you retain full access until the end of your billing period. Consequently, if your renewal date is 15 days away, you will have access for those 15 days, then lose it when the period ends. You will not be charged again after the final access date.
Timeline after cancellation
You should expect the following sequence of events:
- 0-24 hours: You receive a cancellation confirmation email from Hooked, Apple, or Google (depending on your platform).
- 1-7 days: Your account status changes to "Cancelled" or "Ending soon" in the app or on the website.
- At next renewal date: No charge appears on your bank statement or credit card.
- After final renewal date: You lose access to premium features; the app still works but shows a paywall.
Check your bank statement
Monitor your bank or credit card statement for 2-3 days after your next renewal date to confirm no charge was processed. If a charge appears after you cancelled, contact your bank immediately and file a dispute, citing your cancellation confirmation email as evidence. In accordance with the Consumer Act of the Philippines, your bank must investigate disputes within 30 days and reverse charges that were made without your authorisation.
Refund rights and how to reclaim money
Hooked's refund policy depends on your billing circumstances and how long you have held the subscription.
Refunds for active subscriptions
If you cancel mid-month or mid-week, Hooked does not automatically refund the unused portion of your subscription. This is standard practice in the subscription industry and is permitted under Philippine law, provided the cancellation was free and not difficult to complete. However, if you can demonstrate that you did not use the service (for example, you cancelled within 48 hours of sign-up), you may have grounds to request a courtesy refund from Hooked support.
Refunds for accidental charges
If you were charged after you submitted a cancellation request, you have the right to a full refund. In accordance with the Consumer Act of the Philippines, any charge made after a valid cancellation is an unauthorised transaction. Contact your bank or credit card company and file a dispute, providing your cancellation confirmation email as evidence. Your bank will reverse the charge within 30 days, and you will receive a refund credit to your account.
Refunds for duplicate or fraudulent charges
If Hooked charged you twice in one billing cycle or charged you with a different amount than agreed, contact your bank immediately. Your bank has the authority to reverse fraudulent charges under Philippine consumer protection law. Yafee recommends gathering all your cancellation emails, bank statements, and app screenshots before disputing with your bank, as this evidence strengthens your case.
Common mistakes that prevent cancellation
You are not powerless if your first cancellation attempt failed. Most unsuccessful cancellations happen because people cancel in the wrong place. Here is what to avoid.
Mistake 1: cancelling only in the app itself
Deleting the Hooked app from your phone does not cancel your subscription. Hooked will continue to charge you every week or month until you cancel through the correct platform (web, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store). Uninstalling the app is purely for your device; it does not interact with Hooked's billing system.
Mistake 2: assuming your cancellation was processed without confirmation
Do not assume your cancellation worked unless you receive a written confirmation email. If you do not get a confirmation within 24 hours, log back into your account and check your subscription status. If it still shows "Active," submit the cancellation request again. Yafee advises taking screenshots of every step to build a record of your attempt.
Mistake 3: not checking your bank statement after cancellation
Verify that no charge appeared on your next billing date. If you do not check your statement, you may miss an unauthorised charge and lose the right to dispute it with your bank (dispute windows are typically 60-90 days from the charge date). Set a phone reminder to check your statement 2 days after your renewal date.
Mistake 4: cancelling in the wrong account if you have multiple subscriptions
If you have separate Hooked accounts for different children or on different devices, make sure you cancel the correct subscription. Log into the account linked to the email address being charged. If you have a Hooked account on the web and a separate subscription through Apple, you must cancel both independently.
Checklist for successful cancellation
Use this checklist to ensure your cancellation goes smoothly and you have the evidence to back it up if needed.
| Step |
Action |
Proof to save |
| Before you cancel |
Check your last 3 bank statements to confirm your billing date and amount |
Screenshot of relevant statement lines |
| Before you cancel |
Log into your Hooked account and note the current subscription status |
Screenshot showing "Active" subscription |
| Cancellation |
Submit cancellation through the correct platform (web, Apple, or Google Play) |
Screenshot of cancellation confirmation screen |
| After cancellation |
Wait 24 hours and check your email for a confirmation from Hooked or your payment platform |
Save the confirmation email with the timestamp |
| After cancellation |
Log back in 2-3 days after your renewal date to check your bank statement |
Screenshot confirming no new charge appears |
| Final step |
If any charge appeared, contact your bank and file a dispute |
Gather all screenshots, emails, and statements for dispute evidence |
When to escalate and where to report Hooked
If Hooked continues to charge you after you have submitted a valid cancellation request, or if the company refuses to process your cancellation, you have the right to escalate to the government consumer protection authority.
File a complaint with the department of trade and industry (DTI)
The DTI Consumer Protection Group enforces the Consumer Act of the Philippines and investigates complaints against companies that violate consumer rights. You can file a complaint if Hooked:
- Does not cancel your subscription within one billing cycle of receiving your request.
- Continues to charge you after you have submitted a written cancellation request.
- Makes cancellation deliberately difficult or unavailable.
- Does not refund unauthorised or duplicate charges.
Visit the DTI website or visit a DTI office in your city. You can also submit a complaint online through their consumer hotline. Provide your cancellation confirmation email, bank statements showing the charges, and any correspondence with Hooked. The DTI will contact Hooked on your behalf and demand a refund and explanation within 10 days.
Dispute the charge with your bank
Contact your bank or credit card company and file a dispute for any charge made after your cancellation date. Provide:
- Your cancellation confirmation email.
- Copies of your bank statements showing the disputed charge.
- A written explanation of when you cancelled and when the unwanted charge appeared.
Your bank must investigate within 30 days and reverse the charge if it was made without your authorisation. The bank will credit your account within 5-10 business days after the investigation closes.
Comparison: keep or cancel Hooked
Deciding whether to cancel depends on your child's learning progress and your budget.
| Factor |
Keep Hooked |
Cancel Hooked |
| Reading improvement |
Child shows measurable progress in phonics and comprehension |
No visible improvement after 8+ weeks, or child has lost interest |
| Budget impact |
₱819/month fits comfortably in your budget |
Monthly charge strains finances or feels like wasted money |
| Daily use |
Child uses Hooked at least 2-3 times per week |
Child rarely opens the app or abandoned it weeks ago |
| Learning stage |
Content matches child's current level |
Content is too easy, too hard, or no longer suits child's age |
| Free alternatives |
No adequate free reading apps meet your needs |
Child would benefit more from free public library apps or school resources |
| Trial period left |
Still within a promotional or free trial period |
Trial period ended weeks ago and full charges have begun |
If your child is still learning and showing progress, keeping Hooked may be worthwhile. Nevertheless, if you have tried it for at least 4-8 weeks with no improvement, or if the cost is straining your household budget, cancelling is the right choice. Yafee encourages you to make a decision based on your child's actual engagement and your financial situation, not pressure to continue paying.
If you need to escalate your cancellation or file a complaint, use the following contact details.
Hooked support contact
Primary address for official legal correspondence (cancellation disputes, refund requests):
Hooked
Eastwood City, Quezon City, Philippines
You can also reach Hooked through their website at gethooked360.com. Look for a "Contact Us," "Help," or "Support" link. Submit a cancellation request or dispute through their contact form and request a confirmation email. Keep a copy of your submission and any response.
Philippine consumer protection contacts
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Consumer Protection Group
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1386 (domestic hotline)
Website: www.dti.gov.ph
File a complaint if Hooked refuses to cancel or continues to charge you after cancellation.
Your bank or credit card issuer
Contact the customer service number on the back of your credit card or bank statement. File a dispute for any unauthorised charge made after your cancellation date.
Summary: you have the power to cancel
Cancelling Hooked is straightforward once you know which platform to use. The Consumer Act of the Philippines guarantees your right to cancel at any time without penalty. Match your cancellation method to where you signed up (web, Apple, or Google Play), confirm that you receive a cancellation email, and verify that no charge appears on your next billing date. If Hooked continues to charge you or refuses to cancel, Yafee advises you to dispute the charge with your bank and file a complaint with the DTI. Do not feel obligated to keep paying for a service your family is not using or cannot afford.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and reclaim overcharged amounts by understanding their rights and following a clear cancellation procedure. Your evidence-screenshots, emails, and bank statements-is your protection. Gather it, act confidently, and if the company does not comply, escalate to the authorities. You are in control of your subscription, not the other way around.