How to cancel Adore Me in south africa and protect yourself from unwanted charges
Adore Me operates two distinct platforms that serve customers in South Africa, and identifying which one hosts your account is essential before you initiate cancellation. The global Adore Me site (adore-me.com) processes transactions in USD and operates under US-based subscription rules. Conversely, the South African localised version operates with different payment cycles, currency (ZAR), and cancellation deadlines that differ significantly from the global platform. Yafee's contract law specialists have identified that most South African customers use the localised platform, which imposes stricter monthly cancellation windows. Understanding this distinction prevents failed cancellation attempts and protects you from continued billing cycles.
What each platform offers
Both platforms sell individual lingerie and loungewear items alongside recurring VIP subscription boxes. The VIP membership delivers curated monthly boxes with exclusive discounts and the flexibility to skip upcoming deliveries without penalty. However, automatic renewal policies mean you will be charged at the start of each billing cycle unless you actively intervene before the charge date. Your account type determines which cancellation method applies and how much notice you must provide.
Which platform you use matters for cancellation
If you registered through adore-me.com directly, your cancellation request goes to the global support team and can be submitted through your online dashboard. If you registered through the South African localised version (typically after selecting South Africa as your country during checkout), you must follow the local cancellation procedure, which includes email submission and stricter deadline compliance. Yafee recommends logging into your account immediately to confirm your platform and review the billing cycle date listed in your subscription settings.
Your legal rights under south african consumer law
South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) establishes your statutory rights when cancelling online subscriptions and demanding refunds, and these protections apply regardless of which platform you use or where Adore Me's servers are located.
Consumer protection act protections for subscriptions
The CPA Section 48 requires businesses to honour cancellation requests within a reasonable timeframe and to cease all charges immediately upon valid cancellation. If Adore Me or its South African representative continues to bill you after you have submitted a cancellation request, you have grounds to dispute the charge and demand a full refund. The Act specifically prohibits unfair contract terms and requires retailers to make cancellation procedures transparent and accessible at the point of sale. If the cancellation process was obscured, deliberately hidden, or made unreasonably difficult during account creation, you can lodge a complaint with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) or escalate to the National Consumer Tribunal.
Your legal position regarding refunds and continued billing
Under CPA Section 14, you have a 30-calendar-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase to cancel an order before it ships and receive a full refund. For active VIP subscriptions, your right to cancel takes effect immediately upon submission of your cancellation request; the company must not charge you for any subsequent billing cycle. If charges appear on your statement after you have cancelled, you may dispute them with your bank or card issuer within 60 days of the transaction date. Yafee advises you to retain all cancellation confirmation emails and bank statements as evidence should you need to escalate a dispute.
Escalation authorities if cancellation is refused
If Adore Me refuses to honour your cancellation or continues charging after your request, you may escalate your complaint to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) at [email protected] or lodge a formal dispute with your bank. For cases involving payment fraud or misuse of payment card data, you may report the retailer to the South African Police Service's Commercial Crime Investigation unit or the National Credit Regulator if credit arrangements were involved.
If your account is registered at adore-me.com (USD billing), follow these steps to cancel your VIP subscription through your online dashboard.
Access your account and locate subscription settings
- Open a web browser and navigate to adore-me.com.
- Log into your account using your email address and password.
- Click on your user profile icon or "Account" link, typically located in the top right corner of the page.
- Select "Subscriptions," "VIP Membership," or "My VIP" from the dropdown menu.
Review your subscription details and cancellation options
- Locate your active VIP subscription on the subscription management page.
- Note the next billing date, which appears beside your subscription status.
- Look for a "Manage Subscription," "Cancel Subscription," or "Pause" button adjacent to your active plan.
- If you wish to retain your account but skip the next month's box, select "Skip Month" instead of cancellation.
Submit your cancellation request
- Click the "Cancel Subscription" or equivalent button.
- Read any confirmation message that appears; this confirms that Adore Me has recorded your request.
- You will receive a confirmation email at the address associated with your account within 24 hours.
- Do not close your browser or navigate away from the page until the page displays a final confirmation message or redirect.
Verify cancellation and retain proof
- Check your email inbox (and spam folder) for a cancellation confirmation from Adore Me.
- Forward this email to your own personal email archive or print it as a PDF for your records.
- Log back into your account after 24 hours and confirm that your subscription status now reads "Cancelled" or "Inactive."
- If your subscription still appears active after 48 hours, contact Adore Me support immediately with a screenshot of your account and your cancellation confirmation email.
If you registered through the South African version of Adore Me or were redirected to a ZAR billing page, you must submit your cancellation request by email before the monthly deadline.
Identify the correct email address and submission deadline
- Log into your South African Adore Me account and navigate to "Account Settings" or "Subscription."
- Note the next billing date displayed on your subscription page; this is the date your next charge will occur.
- Calculate the deadline: you must submit your cancellation email no later than 5 business days before the next billing date to stop that charge.
- If your next billing date is 15 January, your cancellation email must arrive by 10 January (accounting for weekends and public holidays).
- Locate the cancellation email address in the account settings, help section, or subscription terms; it is typically [email protected] or a similar local address.
Compose and send your cancellation email
- Open your email client and create a new message to the cancellation email address you identified.
- Write a clear subject line: "Subscription cancellation request - [Your Account Email Address]."
- In the email body, include:
- Your full name.
- Your account email address.
- Your account number (if visible in your account settings).
- A single sentence: "I request immediate cancellation of my VIP subscription, effective as of the next billing cycle. Please confirm receipt and cancellation status via return email."
- Send the email and note the date and time of submission.
Confirm receipt and cancellation status
- Wait for a reply email from Adore Me support within 48 business hours.
- The confirmation email must include your name, account email, and the effective cancellation date.
- Save this confirmation email to your computer and your email archive immediately.
- If you do not receive a reply within 48 hours, resend your cancellation email and include the phrase "Second submission - first email sent on [date]."
- Monitor your bank statement for the next billing cycle; if a charge appears after your confirmed cancellation date, dispute it with your bank immediately.
Cancellation for app store subscriptions
If you subscribed to Adore Me through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you must cancel through the app store directly, as the retailer does not manage these subscriptions.
Cancel an apple app store subscription
- On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Settings app.
- Tap or click your name, then select "Subscriptions."
- Find "Adore Me" in the active subscriptions list.
- Select "Adore Me," then tap or click "Cancel Subscription."
- Confirm the cancellation in the pop-up window.
- Apple will send you a cancellation confirmation email; retain this for your records.
Cancel a google play subscription
- On your Android device, open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select "Payments and subscriptions," then "Subscriptions."
- Find "Adore Me" and tap it.
- Tap "Cancel subscription" and confirm when prompted.
- Check your email for a cancellation confirmation from Google Play within 24 hours.
Understanding refund eligibility and timelines
Your entitlement to a refund depends on when you submit your cancellation request and whether your items have already shipped.
Refund scenarios and timelines
| Scenario |
Timeframe |
Refund entitlement |
Action required |
| Cancel before order ships (within 30 days of purchase) |
0-30 days post-purchase |
Full refund to original payment method |
Submit cancellation via account dashboard or email; no return required |
| Cancel after shipment, item unopened |
Within 30 days of receipt |
Full refund less return shipping cost |
Use pre-paid return label from your account portal; refund issued 7-14 days after Adore Me receives the item |
| Cancel VIP subscription for future box |
Before next billing cycle |
No charge for future box; no refund for past boxes |
Submit cancellation before deadline; verify cancellation confirmation |
| Accidental charge after cancellation |
Within 60 days of charge |
Full refund via chargeback or dispute resolution |
Dispute the charge with your bank; provide cancellation email as evidence |
| Item received but damaged or incorrect |
Within 30 days of receipt |
Full refund or replacement at Adore Me's cost |
Report issue via account portal with photos; Adore Me arranges return |
How to request a refund for returned items
- Log into your Adore Me account and navigate to "My Orders" or "Order History."
- Find the order you wish to return and click "Return Item" or "Start Return."
- Select the reason for return (e.g., "Changed mind," "Incorrect size," "Damaged").
- Adore Me will generate a pre-paid return label; download and print it, or save the barcode to your phone.
- Pack the item securely in a padded envelope or box and affix the return label.
- Drop the package at your nearest South African Post Office or courier partner.
- Keep your tracking receipt until Adore Me confirms receipt of the return (typically 7-10 business days).
- Adore Me will process your refund within 5-7 business days of receiving the returned item.
- Check your bank statement to confirm the refund has posted; if it has not appeared within 14 days, contact your bank and provide your return tracking number.
Common cancellation mistakes and how to avoid them
Many South African customers inadvertently delay or fail their cancellation by overlooking a single procedural step; these mistakes are easily preventable with careful attention to timing and documentation.
Mistake one: cancelling on the wrong platform
If you created your account on adore-me.com but expect to cancel via email, your request will not be processed by the South African team and will be ignored or misdirected. Conversely, submitting an email cancellation request for a global account will not reach the correct department. Before submitting any cancellation, log into your account, take a screenshot of the billing currency and next billing date, and cross-reference this with the correct platform. Yafee recommends taking a screenshot of your account dashboard to confirm which platform you are using.
Mistake two: missing the email deadline
The South African platform requires email cancellation submission by the 5th business day before your next billing date. If your billing date is 20 January and you send your cancellation email on 16 January, it may arrive too late, and you will be charged for the next box. Always calculate your deadline at least one week in advance, and send your email by 2 PM on the deadline date to ensure timely receipt and processing.
Mistake three: not retaining proof of cancellation
If Adore Me disputes your cancellation claim or continues to charge you, you will need documented evidence that you submitted your request. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation from the app dashboard, save the confirmation email with full headers (date and sender information), and forward it to a personal email account immediately. Without this documentation, your bank may struggle to support a chargeback dispute.
Mistake four: assuming silence means cancellation
If you receive no reply email confirming your cancellation within 48 hours of submitting your request via email, do not assume your cancellation was successful. Contact Adore Me support again, and request written confirmation of your cancellation status. Monitor your next billing date closely and contact your bank if an unexpected charge appears.
What happens after your cancellation is confirmed
Once Adore Me confirms your subscription cancellation, your account transitions to a specific status, and you retain the ability to make individual purchases without automatic renewal. Understanding your post-cancellation obligations and rights ensures you avoid re-subscription traps and maintain clear records.
Your account status after cancellation
Your account remains open and active, but your VIP subscription is terminated. You may still log in, view your order history, and purchase individual items at standard pricing (not VIP discount rates). Your saved payment methods remain on file for future purchases, but no automatic charges will occur. If you wish to re-subscribe at a later date, you can do so at any time through your account settings.
Protecting yourself from re-subscription
- After cancellation is confirmed, do not delete your account, as this may erase your purchase history and proof of cancellation.
- If you receive marketing emails from Adore Me, click "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of each email to remove yourself from promotional lists.
- Set a phone reminder for the date your old subscription would have renewed; if a charge appears on that date or shortly after, you have clear evidence of a billing error.
- If Adore Me sends you an offer to re-subscribe at a discounted rate and you decline, do not click links within promotional emails, as some retailers use these links to re-activate dormant subscriptions.
- Review your bank or credit card statement for two full billing cycles after cancellation to confirm no further charges appear.
Pricing comparison and when to cancel vs. keep
Your decision to cancel should account for the cost of your current subscription, the value of remaining boxes, and your actual usage of the service.
Subscription cost and value analysis
| Membership tier |
Monthly cost (ZAR est.) |
Items per box |
Retail value (ZAR est.) |
Cost per item |
Recommendation |
| Standard VIP |
R 150-180 |
2-3 |
R 400-600 |
R 50-100 |
Keep if you wear all items |
| Premium VIP |
R 250-300 |
3-4 |
R 600-900 |
R 75-150 |
Keep if cost per item aligns with your preferences |
| Luxury VIP (if available) |
R 400+ |
4-5 |
R 900-1200 |
R 180-300 |
Cancel if items are not worn regularly or fit issues persist |
| Individual purchase (no subscription) |
Per item |
1 |
Varies (R 100-400) |
Full price |
Best option if you buy infrequently |
Reasons to cancel immediately
- You have not worn or used items from the last three boxes.
- Your size or fit preferences are not being met by the curation algorithm, leading to returns.
- You cannot afford the monthly charge and have incurred overdraft fees or missed other payments.
- You have discovered a competitor offering better value or product quality at a lower cost.
- Adore Me has changed its return policy or refund terms in a way that disadvantages you.
Reasons to keep your subscription
- You use 80-100% of items received and the cost per item is below your typical lingerie purchasing budget.
- You value the convenience of curated selections delivered monthly.
- You have negotiated a promotional rate or loyalty discount that you will lose upon cancellation.
- The VIP discount on individual purchases justifies the monthly fee even if you skip occasional boxes.
If your cancellation is not honoured or you require further assistance, contact Adore Me through the official channels listed below and escalate to consumer protection authorities if necessary.
Adore Me customer support contacts
- Global platform (adore-me.com): Submit a support ticket through your account dashboard or email support at [email protected].
- South African localised platform: Email your cancellation request to the address listed in your account settings, typically [email protected] or a similar local domain.
- App store subscription support: Contact Apple Support or Google Play Support directly via the respective app store platforms.
Escalation authorities in south africa
- Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO): [email protected] | This office investigates complaints about unfair contract terms and misleading billing practices.
- National Consumer Tribunal: [email protected] | File a formal complaint if Adore Me refuses to honour your cancellation request or continues billing after cancellation.
- Your bank or credit card issuer: Contact the fraud or dispute department and lodge a chargeback claim for any unauthorised charges within 60 days.
- South African Police Service (Commercial Crime Investigation): Report suspected payment card fraud or misuse of your payment details.
Why yafee can help you navigate this process
Yafee specialises in contract law and consumer rights for online retailers operating in South Africa. Our team has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions, recover unwanted charges, and resolve billing disputes with clear, step-by-step guidance rooted in South African consumer law. Whether you are cancelling Adore Me through the global platform or the South African version, Yafee provides the legal framework, procedural clarity, and documentation templates you need to cancel successfully and protect yourself from continued billing. Visit Yafee.com today for templates, consumer rights guides, and live support from contract law specialists who understand your South African consumer protections.