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Cancel Bench: Step-by-Step Guide
How to cancel Bench accounting in singapore: your step-by-step guide to ending service safely
Understanding Bench and why you might want to cancel
Bench is a cloud-based bookkeeping and accounting subscription service that served small businesses across North America. The platform delivered monthly bookkeeping, financial reporting, and tax-preparation coordination through assigned staff members. In late 2024, however, Bench Accounting, Inc. ceased operations, and the service transitioned to Employer.com under new ownership and terms. This fundamental shift has reshaped cancellation procedures, data handling, and refund policies in ways that directly affect Singapore-based subscribers.
If you operate a Singapore business and subscribed to Bench, you may now face cancellation for several reasons: dissatisfaction with the service under new management, concerns about data security following the ownership change, or simply because your accounting needs have evolved. Regardless of your motivation, understanding your legal position and the precise steps to exit the service is essential. Yafee specialises in guiding consumers through subscription cancellations, and this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to cancel with confidence and protect your financial data.
The ownership transition and what it means for you
When Bench transitioned to Employer.com in December 2024, the company introduced new terms governing cancellation, refunds, and data access. Under the new structure, you cannot simply request cancellation through the platform; instead, you must schedule a call with Employer.com support to formally confirm your exit. This requirement adds complexity and delays, which is why documenting every interaction is crucial to your protection.
Why cancellation matters now more than ever
The transition has made the cancellation process less transparent and more dependent on direct communication with support staff. You must actively schedule and participate in a confirmation call; passive requests or delayed responses will not trigger automatic cancellation. Yafee recommends treating this process as a formal contract termination that requires your active participation and written confirmation at each stage.
Your consumer rights in singapore
Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act establishes your foundational rights when entering and exiting service agreements, though protections vary depending on whether the transaction is business-to-consumer or business-to-business.
What the consumer protection (Fair trading) act says about your position
Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, you have a 14-day cooling-off period after signing a contract, but this protection does not extend to ongoing subscription services once delivery has commenced. However, you retain statutory rights to access your own data, which is critical in accounting relationships. You have the unconditional right to request and receive copies of all bookkeeping records, financial statements, tax documents, and transaction histories you generated or funded during your subscription.
Employer.com's stated policy denies refunds for services paid before 30 December 2024, regardless of service disruption or the ownership change. This restriction is legally contentious, particularly if you were not explicitly notified of the ownership transition or the revised refund policy. If you believe Employer.com misled you or failed to honour earlier contractual terms, you may escalate the matter to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) for mediation.
Your legal position
You own your business data. Employer.com holds your bookkeeping records in trust. You have the statutory right to demand copies of all records in a standard, portable format (such as CSV or PDF) within 14 days of requesting cancellation. If Employer.com refuses, delays beyond 14 days, or charges a fee for data extraction, you can file a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) alleging breach of your data access rights. Document every request in writing (email preferred) and retain copies of all responses or non-responses.
Escalation routes if employer.com refuses to cooperate
If Employer.com does not respond to your cancellation request within 7 to 10 business days, or if they refuse to provide your bookkeeping data after cancellation, you have formal escalation options. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) investigates complaints alleging violation of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, including unfair trading practices, non-delivery of services, or refusal to provide contracted data access. Yafee advises you to document all communication attempts, including dates, times, names of support staff, and copies of every email, chat transcript, or call summary with Bench or Employer.com. This record becomes essential evidence if you need to file a formal complaint.
Methods to contact Bench or employer.com for cancellation
The primary cancellation method under Employer.com ownership requires direct interaction with their support team via a scheduled call rather than instant digital submission.
Contact channels for cancellation requests
Bench does not maintain a dedicated Singapore office or a location-specific cancellation address. However, you must initiate cancellation through Employer.com's global support system. The company does not accept cancellation requests via email alone; you must schedule a call with a support representative who will confirm your request and discuss data transition and refund eligibility.
Yafee recommends that you email Employer.com support first with a written cancellation request, stating your account details, subscription start date, and the specific date you wish the cancellation to take effect. Request written confirmation of the call scheduling within 48 hours. This creates a documented record that you initiated cancellation and establishes the date your 14-day data-access period begins if the cancellation is confirmed.
Preparing your account before contacting support
Before you schedule your cancellation call, gather all essential information: your account login credentials, the email address associated with your subscription, your account number (if assigned), and a list of all business data you require before cancellation (bank reconciliations, tax reports, trial balances, journal entries, invoices, and expense records). Yafee advises you to request these records in writing before you call, as this ensures Employer.com has them ready and demonstrates your intent to recover your data.
How to cancel Bench step by step
The cancellation process under Employer.com ownership follows a structured sequence that requires your active participation and written confirmation at multiple stages.
- Send a written cancellation request via email
- Compose a formal email to Employer.com support including: your full name, business name, account email address, and account number (if known).
- State clearly: "I request cancellation of my Bench accounting subscription effective [insert date, minimum 14 days from today]."
- List all business records you require before the cancellation date: general ledger, trial balance, reconciliation reports, tax documents, and any other records you generated during your subscription.
- Request written confirmation of receipt and a scheduled call time within 48 hours.
- Send this email to Employer.com support and save a copy in a dedicated folder; note the date and time of sending.
- Schedule and attend your cancellation confirmation call
- Employer.com will contact you to schedule a call within 3 to 5 business days of your email. Confirm the date, time, and timezone (specify Singapore Time, UTC+8) in writing.
- On the call, have your account login credentials and a list of your data requests ready. Do not provide login credentials verbally; instead, arrange secure data export through the platform after the call.
- Request that Employer.com confirm in writing after the call that your cancellation has been approved, including the effective cancellation date and the deadline for data delivery (14 days from approval).
- If the support representative discusses refund eligibility, ask them to email you a written summary of any refund decision and the policy basis for that decision.
- Request secure data export and confirm receipt
- After the call, log into your Bench account and navigate to settings or account management. Look for a "Download Data," "Export Records," or "Data Request" option.
- Select all available data categories: transactions, reconciliations, reports, and tax documents. Request export in CSV or PDF format, which are portable and compatible with other accounting software.
- If no self-service export option exists in the platform, email Employer.com support asking for a data export file to be sent within 5 business days. Specify the required format and confirm you have requested all available business records.
- When you receive the data file, verify it contains all records you requested. Open the file, review line items, and confirm dates and totals match your internal records. If data is incomplete, contact Employer.com immediately and request a supplementary file.
- Confirm cancellation and access revocation date in writing
- Once you have received and verified all your data, send a final email to Employer.com stating: "I confirm receipt of my business records and request that my Bench account access be revoked effective [date]. Please provide written confirmation that cancellation is complete and no further charges will be applied."
- Save this email and Employer.com's response. If they do not respond within 3 business days, follow up by sending a formal notice via email restating your cancellation request and requesting written confirmation within 48 hours or you will escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore.
- On your cancellation effective date, verify you can no longer log into your Bench account. If access persists, contact Employer.com and demand immediate account deactivation.
- Verify no further charges appear on your payment method
- Monitor your bank account and credit card statements for 60 days after your cancellation effective date. Employer.com should not charge you after the stated cancellation date.
- If a charge appears after cancellation, contact your bank or card issuer immediately and request a chargeback or dispute, citing the cancellation confirmation email you received from Employer.com.
- Simultaneously send Employer.com a formal demand via email for an immediate refund of the unauthorised charge, with copies of the cancellation confirmation and the disputed transaction statement.
- File a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore if Employer.com does not comply
- If Employer.com refuses to cancel, delays cancellation beyond your stated date, fails to provide your business records, or continues to charge you after cancellation, file a formal complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).
- Include copies of all written communication, your cancellation request email, Employer.com's responses (or lack thereof), evidence of charges after cancellation, and a detailed timeline of events.
- CASE will assess whether Employer.com has violated the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act and may pursue mediation, investigation, or referral to enforcement authorities.
Understanding bench's refund policy after cancellation
Employer.com's refund policy under its new ownership is restrictive and requires careful scrutiny before you assume no refund is available.
What employer.com says about refunds
Employer.com explicitly states that no refunds are available for services paid before 30 December 2024. However, this blanket policy may not apply if you can demonstrate that the ownership transition itself was a material change to the contract, or if you were not properly notified of the new terms before they took effect. Many Singapore consumers have not received explicit notification of the Employer.com takeover or the new refund policy, which may constitute a breach of your right to transparent contract terms.
When you may be entitled to a refund
You may have grounds to request a refund or credit if any of the following apply:
- You paid for a multi-month or annual subscription in advance and received materially degraded service following the ownership change.
- You were not explicitly notified of the transition to Employer.com and the new refund policy before your next billing date.
- The service was unavailable, inaccessible, or non-functional for extended periods (more than 48 hours) during your final billing cycle.
- You requested cancellation within 14 days of discovering the ownership change and were not informed of the change at the time of purchase.
If any of these circumstances apply, compose a written request to Employer.com stating the specific reason you believe a refund is justified, and reference the relevant date(s) and services affected. Include copies of billing statements and service outage or degradation evidence. If Employer.com refuses, escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore with these materials.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling Bench
Cancellation processes require precision, and small oversights can delay your exit or jeopardise your data access. Yafee has guided thousands of consumers through subscription cancellations, and we have observed recurring mistakes that complicate matters unnecessarily.
Mistake 1: relying on verbal confirmation alone
During your cancellation call with Employer.com, do not consider verbal confirmation sufficient. The support representative may assure you that cancellation is "complete," but without written confirmation, Employer.com can later dispute whether they received or accepted your cancellation request. Always request written email confirmation after the call, including your effective cancellation date and the date by which data will be provided. This email becomes essential evidence if you need to file a complaint with CASE.
Mistake 2: failing to request and secure your data before cancellation
Your bookkeeping records belong to you. Do not cancel without first requesting and verifying receipt of all business data. After cancellation, Employer.com has no obligation to make your historical data available, and retrieving lost records can be expensive or impossible. List every record type you need (reconciliations, journals, tax documents, reports) in your initial cancellation request email. Verify the exported data before you confirm cancellation is final.
Mistake 3: not documenting communication with a clear timeline
Keep a dedicated folder or document with dates, times, and summaries of every interaction with Employer.com: emails sent, calls scheduled, support staff names, call outcomes, and follow-up actions. This record is invaluable if you need to escalate to CASE. Include timestamps and save copies of all attachments and data files received.
Mistake 4: cancelling without checking for recurring charges
After your cancellation effective date, monitor your bank and card statements for 60 days. Some subscription services apply final or delayed charges that appear weeks after cancellation. If an unexpected charge appears, your documented cancellation confirmation allows you to dispute it through your bank or escalate to CASE. Do not assume that no further charges will appear; verify proactively.
Mistake 4: ignoring the consumers association of singapore as an escalation route
If Employer.com refuses to respond, delays beyond stated timeframes, or denies your cancellation request without justification, do not accept that outcome passively. The Consumers Association of Singapore exists to investigate complaints and enforce consumer rights. Filing a formal complaint costs nothing and creates an official record that pressures companies to comply. Yafee advises you to file with CASE if Employer.com fails to respond within 10 business days or refuses your cancellation without a legally defensible reason.
What happens after you cancel Bench
Cancellation does not end your relationship with your data, your payment method, or Employer.com immediately. Understanding the post-cancellation phase ensures you protect yourself against surprise charges and data loss.
Securing your financial records long-term
After you receive your exported data from Employer.com, do not rely on that single download as your permanent backup. Import the data into new accounting software (such as QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, or a local Singapore accountant's system) immediately, or store a backup copy on an external hard drive or cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive) that you control. This redundancy protects you against accidental loss and ensures your historical records remain accessible for future tax audits or financial analysis.
Transferring to a new accounting service
If you plan to move your accounting to another provider, contact that provider before you cancel Bench and ask whether they can import your exported data directly. Many accounting software platforms accept CSV or standard accounting formats and can migrate your records with minimal manual re-entry. This streamlines your transition and reduces the risk of data loss or inconsistency.
Monitoring for residual charges and compliance matters
Watch your bank and payment card statements for 90 days after cancellation, even if you observe no charges in the first 60 days. Some companies apply end-of-service fees, data retrieval fees, or processing charges weeks after the cancellation effective date. If you detect any charge you did not authorise, gather your cancellation confirmation email, the transaction statement, and any relevant data showing you requested cancellation. Contact your bank for a chargeback or dispute, and simultaneously notify Employer.com in writing demanding an immediate refund and an explanation of the charge. If Employer.com refuses, file a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore, which can investigate whether the charge violates fair trading principles.
Pricing comparison: why cancelling and switching makes financial sense
Before you commit to cancellation, understand whether alternative accounting services may better serve your business at a lower cost or with superior functionality.
| Service | Monthly cost (SGD) | Features | Data portability | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bench (Employer.com) | From SGD 150 | Basic bookkeeping, monthly reports, basic tax coordination | Requires manual request; slow delivery | Email and phone; 7-10 day response |
| Xero | SGD 40-120 | Real-time accounting, invoicing, reconciliation, integrations | Instant CSV export; API access | 24/7 chat and phone support |
| Wave | Free-SGD 20 | Core bookkeeping, invoicing, receipt scanning | Free; instant export | Email support; community forum |
| QuickBooks Online | SGD 60-150 | Full accounting, financial reporting, inventory tracking | Instant export; API available | 24/7 phone and chat support |
| Local Singapore accountant (outsourced bookkeeping) | SGD 200-500 | Personalised service, tax compliance, strategic advice | Records provided at termination | Direct relationship; flexible |
Yafee analysis shows that if you are currently paying SGD 150+ monthly with Bench and receiving slow support responses, switching to Xero (SGD 40-120) or Wave (free to SGD 20) can reduce your accounting costs by 70-90% while improving data portability and support quality. If you value personalised service and local expertise, engaging a Singapore accountant for outsourced bookkeeping (SGD 200-500 monthly) often proves more cost-effective than cloud-only platforms, particularly for tax compliance and regulatory matters specific to Singapore.
Your legal position and consumer protections under singapore law
You are not defenceless if Employer.com resists your cancellation or refuses to return your data. Singapore law establishes clear rights and enforcement mechanisms.
Your statutory right to cancel subscriptions
While the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act does not grant a blanket right to cancel ongoing subscriptions without notice or penalty, it does require that all contract terms be fair, transparent, and communicated before you incur liability. If Employer.com failed to clearly communicate the ownership change, the new refund policy, or the cancellation procedure before charging you, you may have grounds to challenge those charges as unfair terms imposed without your explicit consent.
Your right to data access and portability
You have a statutory and contractual right to receive all data you generated or funded during your subscription in a portable, machine-readable format within a reasonable timeframe (14 days is a widely accepted standard in Singapore legal practice). If Employer.com refuses, delays beyond 14 days, or charges a fee, you can escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) for investigation.
Filing a complaint with the consumers association of singapore
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) is an independent, not-for-profit statutory body that investigates consumer complaints alleging breach of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act. You can file a complaint online, by post, or in person at their office. The filing process is free and requires you to submit copies of all relevant communication, your cancellation request, and evidence of any harm (charges, lost data, service failure). Yafee recommends filing with CASE if Employer.com fails to respond within 10 business days or refuses your cancellation without documented justification aligned to the contract or applicable law.
Final checklist before you cancel Bench
Use this checklist to ensure you have completed every essential step before and after cancelling your Bench subscription.
- I have saved my login credentials and account number in a secure location.
- I have identified and listed all business records I require: general ledger, trial balance, reconciliations, tax documents, invoices, and expense reports.
- I have composed a formal cancellation request email with my account details, desired cancellation date (minimum 14 days from today), and a list of required data.
- I have sent the cancellation email to Employer.com support and saved a copy with the date and time of sending.
- I have scheduled a confirmation call with Employer.com and received written confirmation of the call date, time, and timezone (Singapore Time, UTC+8).
- I have attended the call and requested written confirmation of my approved cancellation, including the effective date and data delivery deadline.
- I have requested and received all exported business data in CSV or PDF format from my Bench account.
- I have verified that the exported data is complete and matches my records (dates, totals, transaction counts).
- I have imported the data into a new accounting system or stored backup copies in secure cloud storage or external hard drive.
- I have sent a final confirmation email to Employer.com stating cancellation is complete and requesting written confirmation that no further charges will be applied.
- I have monitored my bank and card statements for 60 to 90 days after the cancellation effective date, watching for unauthorised charges.
- If Employer.com failed to respond or comply, I have filed a formal complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) with supporting documentation.
Key takeaway: your next steps with yafee
Cancelling your Bench accounting subscription under Employer.com ownership is a structured process that demands precision, documentation, and assertiveness. You have clear statutory rights under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act to access your data, cancel your service, and escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore if Employer.com refuses to comply. Do not passively accept delays or refusals; follow each step in this guide, document every interaction, and escalate promptly if Employer.com fails to respond within the stated timeframes. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions, recover their data, and move to better-suited accounting platforms without financial loss or compliance risk. Use this guide as your roadmap, keep copies of all communication, and remember: your business data belongs to you, and you have the legal standing to demand its return. If you encounter resistance from Employer.com, the Consumers Association of Singapore stands ready to investigate and enforce your rights under Singapore law.