The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that invites you to explore the vast world of Tamriel, complete quests, and engage in both player-versus-environment (PvE) and player-versus-player (PvP) activities. The game operates on a free-to-play model, but ESO Plus-a recurring subscription-unlocks premium content including DLC chapters, a craft bag for unlimited storage, monthly in-game currency (Crowns), and experience boosts that enhance your progression. Whether you've lost interest in gaming, found a different title that captures your attention, or simply want to manage your monthly spending, cancelling your subscription is straightforward once you know the correct procedure. Yafee is here to walk you through every step and help you avoid costly mistakes.
What ESO plus includes
ESO Plus grants you access to all DLC packs released by ZeniMax Media, monthly Crowns (premium currency valued between 1,650 and 4,000 depending on your subscription tier), a craft bag with unlimited space, and bonuses to experience gain and gold collection. You also receive priority customer service and the ability to purchase exclusive cosmetic items from the in-game Crown store. These perks appeal to serious players, but if you're taking a break or prefer casual play, the subscription may no longer align with your gaming habits.
Common reasons south african players cancel
Monthly costs add up quickly when you're juggling multiple subscriptions-streaming services, mobile apps, and gaming memberships all compete for your budget. Some players pause their ESO Plus when they're busy with work or family commitments. Others cancel because they've reached end-game content or switched to a new game entirely. Whatever your reason, your decision deserves respect, and your cancellation should be processed without friction.
Your consumer rights under south african law
South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) protects you when you purchase digital services like ESO Plus, and understanding these rights empowers you during the cancellation process. Yafee believes informed consumers make better decisions and recover funds more effectively when disputes arise.
What the consumer protection act says about digital subscriptions
Under the CPA, digital services must be delivered as advertised and must be fit for purpose. If ESO Plus fails to deliver promised benefits-such as DLC access not working or monthly Crowns not appearing-you have grounds to request a remedy, including a refund. Additionally, any recurring subscription must include a transparent cancellation mechanism, which ESO provides across its platforms. ZeniMax Media must honour your request to cancel within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 48 hours.
Your right to cancel and claim refunds
You have the right to cancel your ESO Plus subscription at any time. However, refunds for active subscription periods are generally not granted unless the service is faulty, unfit for purpose, or you cancel within a cooling-off period if applicable to your purchase method. If you paid via a South African retailer like BT Games or Takealot, contact them first-they may have their own refund policies that exceed ZeniMax's baseline terms. Yafee recommends documenting all communications with the seller, as this strengthens any complaint you lodge with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) if needed.
Your legal position
Under Section 17 of the CPA, you enjoy a cooling-off period of 5 business days if you purchased online without visiting a physical store. You may cancel without penalty within this period. If ESO Plus fails to deliver-meaning it is unfit for purpose or breaches its description-you can claim a refund even after the cooling-off period. The NCC (National Consumer Commission) enforces your rights; lodge a complaint at www.ncc.org.za if ZeniMax refuses to cooperate.
ESO plus pricing in south africa
Below is a breakdown of typical ESO Plus pricing and related plans as listed in South African stores and on the official ESO account portal in 2024-2025. Platform-specific taxes and currency conversions may adjust your final charge.
Current subscription costs and editions
| Plan |
Billing cycle |
ZAR price (approximate) |
Key features |
| ESO Plus monthly |
1 month |
R189-R219 |
All DLC, craft bag, 1,650 Crowns |
| ESO Plus three months |
3 months |
R459-R549 |
All DLC, craft bag, 4,000 Crowns |
| ESO Plus annual |
12 months |
R1,559-R1,799 |
All DLC, craft bag, bonus Crowns |
| Free-to-play base game |
N/A |
R0 (free) |
Base content, optional cosmetics |
| One-time expansion packs |
One-time purchase |
R400-R800 |
Single DLC chapter |
Which payment methods accept south african currency
ESO operates across multiple platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox), and each platform handles payments differently. On PC, you may pay via PayPal, credit card, or PlayStation Network Store if you use a local account registered in South Africa. PlayStation Network and Xbox Game Pass for PC both accept South African payment methods and display prices in ZAR. Yafee advises checking your account settings to confirm your currency is set to ZAR before subscribing, as incorrect regional settings can trigger billing disputes.
Cancellation differs by platform-PC, PlayStation, and Xbox each have distinct steps. Follow the procedure for your device below.
Cancelling on PC via the official ESO website
- Log in to your ESO account at www.elderscrollsonline.com using your registered email and password.
- Navigate to your Account Settings by clicking your profile name in the top right corner.
- Select "Billing" or "Subscriptions" from the left-hand menu.
- Locate your ESO Plus subscription and click "Manage Subscription" or "Cancel Subscription".
- Review the cancellation summary, which confirms your current billing date and final access date.
- Click "Confirm Cancellation" to complete the process.
- You will receive a confirmation email within 1-2 hours. Save this email as proof of cancellation.
Important: Cancelling your subscription does not delete your character or account. You retain access to the free-to-play base game, and you may resubscribe at any time.
Cancelling on PlayStation network
- On your PlayStation console, navigate to Settings > Users and Accounts.
- Select "Account" and then "Payment and Subscriptions".
- Choose "Subscriptions".
- Locate "The Elder Scrolls Online" or "ESO Plus" in your active subscriptions list.
- Select it and choose "Cancel Subscription".
- PlayStation will display your final billing date. Confirm cancellation.
- You will receive a confirmation email from PlayStation Network ([email protected]) within minutes.
Note: If you subscribed via the PlayStation Store on a mobile device, log in to your PlayStation Network account on the web (accounts.sony.com) and follow steps 2-7 above.
Cancelling on xbox game pass or xbox live
- On your Xbox console, press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Navigate to "My subscriptions" under the Profile menu.
- Select "Manage subscriptions".
- Find "The Elder Scrolls Online" or your ESO Plus subscription.
- Click "Manage" and then "Cancel subscription".
- Confirm your decision. Xbox will show your final access date.
- Check your email (associated with your Xbox account) for a confirmation message.
Alternatively, visit account.xbox.com on a web browser, sign in, and repeat steps 3-6 above.
Cancelling via third-party retailers (BT games, takealot, G2A)
If you purchased an ESO Plus code from a third-party retailer-such as BT Games, Takealot, or G2A-the subscription is tied to your ESO account, not the retailer. Cancel via your ESO account using the steps above. However, if the retailer charged you in error or the code did not activate, contact the retailer's customer service directly. Provide your order confirmation number, payment date, and the email address linked to your purchase. Many South African retailers offer refunds within 14 days of purchase if the product is faulty or never redeemed.
What happens after you cancel your subscription
Cancellation takes effect immediately, but your account status depends on your billing cycle. Yafee clarifies what you retain and lose once your subscription ends.
Access after cancellation
You retain full access to ESO Plus features until your current billing cycle ends. For example, if you cancel mid-month and your renewal date is the 15th, you enjoy ESO Plus until 23:59 on the 14th. After that date, your account reverts to the free-to-play version. You keep all your characters, gear, achievements, and gold; none of these are deleted. However, you lose access to DLC dungeons, raids, and chapters unless you purchase them individually.
Your craft bag after cancellation
The craft bag-which holds unlimited crafting materials-becomes locked. Any materials stored in it remain there, but you cannot add new items until you resubscribe or purchase a permanent craft bag upgrade via the Crown Store (approximately 4,000 Crowns, or about R400).
Monthly crowns and in-game currency
Any unused Crowns in your account persist indefinitely. You may spend them in the Crown Store even without an active subscription. However, you no longer receive the monthly Crown stipend (1,650-4,000 depending on your plan) unless you resubscribe.
Automatic renewal and how to stop it
After you cancel, your subscription will not renew automatically. Your account remains dormant until you choose to resubscribe manually. If you encounter unexpected charges after cancellation, contact ESO customer support immediately and file a complaint with your payment processor (your bank or credit card issuer). Request a chargeback if the charge is unauthorised.
Refunds and billing disputes
Refunds are uncommon for active subscriptions, but you have legal grounds to claim one in specific circumstances under South African law.
When you can claim a refund
You qualify for a refund if:
- You cancel within 5 business days of purchase (cooling-off period under the CPA).
- ESO Plus fails to deliver promised features-for example, DLC does not download, monthly Crowns do not arrive, or the craft bag malfunctions.
- You were charged twice in error (duplicate billing).
- You were charged after you cancelled (unauthorised recurring charge).
- ZeniMax applied an incorrect currency conversion or overcharged tax.
How to claim a refund
- Contact ESO customer support via their official website (support.elderscrollsonline.com). Select "Billing" as your issue category.
- Provide your account username, the charge date, the amount, and the reason for your refund request.
- Attach a screenshot of your bank statement or payment receipt showing the charge.
- ZeniMax aims to respond within 5 business days. They will either approve your refund or explain why it cannot be granted.
- If ZeniMax refuses and you believe they acted unlawfully, escalate your complaint to the National Consumer Commission at [email protected] or call 0800 035 071 (toll-free).
Chargeback as a last resort
If ZeniMax does not respond within 10 business days or refuses a legitimate refund claim, contact your bank or credit card company and request a chargeback. Provide the bank with your cancellation confirmation email and evidence of the disputed charge. The bank will investigate and may reverse the transaction within 30-60 days.
Common mistakes when cancelling ESO plus
Cancellation is designed to be simple, but missteps do happen. Yafee has identified the most frequent errors so you avoid them.
Forgetting to cancel before your renewal date
ESO renews automatically on your billing date if you do not cancel beforehand. Set a reminder one week before your renewal date so you have time to cancel without incurring an unwanted charge. Check your ESO account settings to confirm your exact renewal date (usually listed under Billing or Account).
Cancelling on the wrong platform
If you subscribe via PlayStation, cancelling via the ESO website will not stop PlayStation charges. You must cancel through the platform you used to pay. Cross-check your active subscriptions on each device (PC ESO account, PlayStation Store, Xbox account) to ensure you do not have duplicate subscriptions.
Assuming characters are deleted
Your characters remain on the server indefinitely, even after years of inactivity. You do not lose them by cancelling. Log in to the ESO website to confirm your characters are safe, and reactivate your subscription whenever you wish.
Not saving your cancellation confirmation
Always save the confirmation email or screenshot sent by ESO (or your platform provider) after cancellation. This proves you cancelled on a specific date and protects you if disputes arise. If you do not receive a confirmation within 2 hours, log back into your account and re-verify that the subscription is no longer listed as active.
Confusing ESO plus with game ownership
Cancelling ESO Plus does not delete the free game itself. You retain access to the base Elder Scrolls Online client and can play free-to-play content indefinitely. Only DLC chapters, certain zones, and premium features disappear after cancellation.
Summary checklist before and after cancellation
Use this checklist to ensure your cancellation is complete and your account is secure.
| Task |
Tick when done |
| Note your ESO Plus renewal date from your account settings |
[ ] |
| Identify which platform you used to subscribe (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, third-party) |
[ ] |
| Log in to your account and navigate to the correct cancellation page |
[ ] |
| Click "Cancel Subscription" and confirm your final access date |
[ ] |
| Save or screenshot the cancellation confirmation |
[ ] |
| Check your email for a confirmation message within 2 hours |
[ ] |
| Log back in 48 hours later to confirm the subscription is no longer listed |
[ ] |
| Verify no new charge appears on your bank statement after your final access date |
[ ] |
If your cancellation fails, charges persist, or you believe ZeniMax has breached the Consumer Protection Act, you have multiple escalation routes.
Official ESO support channels
Visit support.elderscrollsonline.com and select your issue category (Billing, Account, Subscription). Yafee recommends submitting your request through the official ticket system rather than contacting social media, as ticket submissions create a documented record. Expect a response within 5 business days. Include your ESO username, account email, the date of your transaction, and a clear description of your issue.
Escalation to the national consumer commission
If ESO customer support does not resolve your complaint within 10 business days, lodge a formal complaint with the NCC. You may file online at www.ncc.org.za, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 0800 035 071 (toll-free). The NCC investigates disputes between consumers and businesses, and ZeniMax Media is required by law to cooperate with NCC investigations. Filing a complaint costs nothing.
Contacting your bank or payment processor
If you were charged after cancelling, or if ZeniMax refuses to refund a faulty service, report the issue to your bank immediately. Provide your bank with copies of your cancellation confirmation email and the unauthorised charge on your statement. Your bank can initiate a chargeback or reverse the transaction within 30-60 days. Under South African banking regulations, your bank must investigate claims of fraudulent or duplicate charges.
Postal address for formal notices
If you require a formal escalation, send a registered letter to ZeniMax Media's official customer service address. Address it as follows:
Customer Support Team
ZeniMax Media Inc.
1801 Diagonal Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States
Include your ESO username, account email, the nature of your complaint, the date you attempted to cancel, and copies of all relevant communications and transaction records. Send via registered mail and request proof of delivery. ZeniMax is legally required to respond within 30 days under the CPA's complaint procedures.
Final summary
Cancelling ESO Plus in South Africa is straightforward once you understand your platform, your legal rights, and the correct procedure. Yafee has guided you through each step-from identifying your renewal date, to selecting your cancellation method, to protecting yourself against unauthorised charges. Remember: your subscription does not auto-renew after cancellation, your characters are never deleted, and you retain legal protections under the Consumer Protection Act. If disputes arise, the National Consumer Commission and your bank are your allies.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel gaming subscriptions, resolve billing disputes, and claim refunds without stress. Whether you're pausing ESO to save money, switching to a new game, or reclaiming control of your digital spending, you now have the knowledge and the framework to act confidently. Cancel when you choose, and keep your account secure.