How to cancel BeenVerified in south africa and claim your withdrawal right
What BeenVerified is and why cancellation matters
BeenVerified is a United States-based subscription service that aggregates public records, background checks, and contact information for individuals. You access it via web browser or mobile app to search phone numbers, email addresses, criminal records, and general background data. The service charges recurring monthly or quarterly fees to maintain your account and provide unlimited report lookups within your chosen plan tier.
Many South African users cancel after completing their research, discovering the service offers less value than expected, or noticing recurring charges on their bank statements. Under South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA), you have explicit legal rights to withdraw from distance contracts like this one. Yafee specialises in helping consumers understand and exercise those rights precisely-without delay or confusion.
How BeenVerified operates in south africa
You sign up online, select a subscription plan, and gain immediate access to unlimited background reports (subject to plan limits), phone and email lookups, and criminal record searches. Downloaded or saved reports remain yours even after your subscription ends. The service operates entirely at a distance, meaning all interactions occur through your browser or mobile app, not face-to-face.
Why you might want to cancel
Common reasons include completing your investigation, finding the service less useful than advertised, encountering unexpected billing charges, or simply changing your mind. Whatever your reason, South African law protects your right to cancel within a specific timeframe-and Yafee is here to guide you through the exact steps to enforce that right.
Your consumer rights under south african law
The Consumer Protection Act (Act 68 of 2008) grants you powerful protections when you purchase online services like BeenVerified. Understanding these rights is your strongest foundation for securing a refund and avoiding disputed charges.
The 14-day cooling-off period explained
If you bought your BeenVerified subscription as a distance contract (which applies to all online signups), you have 14 calendar days from the date of purchase to withdraw without giving a reason and without penalty. This cooling-off period applies even if you have already used the service extensively.
You must notify BeenVerified of your intention to cancel within that 14-day window. After day 14 has passed, the company is no longer legally obliged to grant a refund unless you can demonstrate a fault with their service, misleading marketing, or a breach of their terms.
Your legal position
Within 14 days of purchase: You have an unconditional right to withdraw. BeenVerified must refund your full payment within 14 days of receiving your cancellation notice. After 14 days: You may still cancel your subscription, but you have no automatic refund right unless you can prove the company misled you or breached their contract. If the company refuses: You can escalate to the National Consumer Commission (NCC), South Africa's consumer protection authority, which can investigate, issue compliance orders, and impose fines.
What to do if BeenVerified refuses your refund
Document every step of your cancellation attempt. Capture screenshots of your purchase confirmation, your cancellation request, and any refusal email from BeenVerified. If the company denies your legitimate claim, submit a complaint to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) at www.thencc.org.za. Include your documentation and a clear account of how BeenVerified breached the CPA. The NCC has authority to compel refunds and fine the company for non-compliance.
Cancellation methods and where to act
Your cancellation route depends on how you signed up: Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or the BeenVerified website directly. Stopping the subscription through your original payment platform is the most reliable method to prevent continued billing.
Cancel BeenVerified on iPhone or iPad
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen (your Apple ID profile).
- Select Subscriptions.
- Find and tap BeenVerified in the list of active subscriptions.
- Tap Cancel Subscription.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm cancellation.
- Apple will offer you options to reconsider; you may proceed past these.
- Confirm your cancellation; Apple will send you a confirmation email.
Your subscription will end on your current billing date. You retain access until that date expires. Apple processes refunds for cancellations within 14 days of purchase within 5-10 business days.
Cancel BeenVerified on android via google play
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
- Tap BeenVerified.
- Tap Cancel subscription and follow the confirmation steps.
- Google may present retention offers; you may disregard these.
- Confirm your choice to cancel.
Google Play will confirm your cancellation via email. If you cancel within 14 days of purchase, you are eligible for a full refund; request this in writing if Google does not process it automatically.
Cancel BeenVerified via the website
- Log into your BeenVerified account at beenverified.com.
- Navigate to your Account Settings or Subscription Management section.
- Look for Billing, Subscription, or Manage Plan options.
- Select Cancel Subscription or Downgrade.
- Enter your reason for cancellation (optional but helpful for your record).
- Screenshot this page for your records.
- Confirm your cancellation by clicking the final confirmation button.
- Retrieve and save your cancellation confirmation email.
Cancelling via the website is your clearest documented route. Yafee advises you to save every confirmation screen and email as proof of your cancellation date.
Refund claims and timeline expectations
Your refund eligibility and timeframe depend on when you cancel and which payment method you used.
Refund timeline within the 14-day window
If you cancel within 14 calendar days of purchase, you are entitled to a full refund. BeenVerified must process your refund within 14 days of receiving your cancellation notice. If you used a credit card or debit card, the refund appears in your account within 3-5 business days after BeenVerified initiates it. If you paid via Apple or Google, those platforms typically process refunds within 5-10 business days.
Track the exact date you cancelled (your confirmation email will show this). If you do not see a refund after 21 days of cancellation, contact BeenVerified's support team with your cancellation confirmation and demand the refund in writing. Keep a copy of your demand email.
Refund eligibility after 14 days
After your 14-day cooling-off period expires, BeenVerified is not legally obliged to refund you unless you can prove a breach of contract or misleading marketing. Common successful claims after 14 days include: the service did not match the advertised features, billing occurred without your authorisation, or the company failed to deliver the promised unlimited searches.
Nevertheless, many companies offer partial refunds or account credits as goodwill. Request one by email to BeenVerified's support team. Reference the CPA in your email: "I am invoking my rights under South Africa's Consumer Protection Act Section 48(2) and request a refund for non-performance."
Failed or disputed refunds
If BeenVerified refuses your refund claim, escalate to the National Consumer Commission. File a complaint form (available at www.thencc.org.za) and include your cancellation proof, refund demand email, and BeenVerified's refusal response. The NCC investigates at no cost to you and can compel the company to refund your money and pay damages if it finds a breach.
Pricing and subscription plans at a glance
Understanding what you are paying helps clarify whether cancellation is your best move.
| Plan tier |
Monthly cost |
Quarterly cost |
Key features |
Best for |
| Basic |
R99-R149 |
R249-R349 |
Limited searches per month; basic reports |
Casual users |
| Standard |
R199-R299 |
R499-R699 |
Unlimited searches; full background checks |
Most popular; good balance |
| Premium |
R399-R599 |
R999-R1,499 |
Unlimited searches; priority support; advanced filters |
Frequent researchers |
| Enterprise |
Custom pricing |
Custom pricing |
Bulk reports; API access; dedicated support |
Businesses and legal firms |
Costs are approximate and may vary depending on current promotions or your payment region. Yafee recommends checking your account billing page or your bank statement for your exact charge.
What happens after you cancel
Cancelling does not erase your data or history immediately. Here is what to expect in the days and weeks following your cancellation.
Your access after cancellation
You retain access to BeenVerified until the end of your current billing cycle. If you cancel on day 10 of a monthly subscription, you can continue using the service until your billing date passes. After your subscription ends, you lose access to new searches. Any reports you downloaded or saved remain in your account for your records, but you cannot run fresh lookups.
Confirming your cancellation and payment status
Log back into your BeenVerified account a few days after cancellation to confirm your subscription status shows "Cancelled" or "Inactive". Check your bank or credit card statement for your next billing date. If you are charged after cancellation, contact your bank immediately and dispute the charge as unauthorized. Simultaneously, email BeenVerified with your cancellation confirmation and demand a refund.
Pursuing a refund after you have cancelled
If you cancelled on day 8 and your refund has not appeared by day 22, send BeenVerified a formal refund demand in writing. Use this template:
"Dear BeenVerified Support, I cancelled my subscription on [date] within the 14-day cooling-off period mandated by South Africa's Consumer Protection Act. My cancellation confirmation is attached. I have not received my refund within 14 days of cancellation as required by law. Please process my full refund within 3 business days. If you do not comply, I will file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission."
Send this email to their support address (beenverified.com/contact) and to any email listed on your account settings. Keep a copy for your records. If no refund arrives within 3 days, escalate to the NCC immediately.
Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling
Most cancellations succeed quickly when you follow the right process. Here are the pitfalls Yafee sees repeatedly-and how to sidestep them.
Mistake 1: cancelling on the wrong platform
If you signed up via Apple App Store but attempt to cancel on Google Play, the cancellation will not work and your subscription will continue billing. Always cancel through the platform where you originally subscribed. Check your bank statement or email receipt to confirm which platform you used, then follow that platform's cancellation steps exactly.
Mistake 2: assuming account deletion equals cancellation
Deleting your BeenVerified account does not automatically cancel your subscription. You must explicitly cancel your subscription before deleting your account. Yafee advises: cancel subscription first, wait for your refund, then delete your account if you wish.
Mistake 3: missing the 14-day window
Your cooling-off period is 14 calendar days-not business days-from the date of purchase. Do not delay. If you receive your bank statement on day 15, you are already outside the window. If you think you might cancel, do it immediately to preserve your full refund right. You can always reactivate later if you change your mind; you cannot recover a lost 14-day window.
Mistake 4: failing to document your cancellation
Screenshot every confirmation page, save every confirmation email, and photograph your bank statement showing the purchase date. If a dispute arises, your proof is your lever. Yafee has seen companies falsely claim they never received a cancellation request; your dated screenshots defeat that argument instantly.
Mistake 5: not requesting a refund explicitly
Cancelling your subscription and requesting a refund are two separate actions. Always include a refund request in your cancellation message or follow up with a direct refund email. Use the words "I request a full refund" clearly. Silence is not consent; explicit request is.
Escalation and dispute resolution
If BeenVerified refuses your cancellation or refund claim, you have formal avenues to compel compliance.
Step 1: document and demand in writing
Send BeenVerified a formal written demand for refund or cancellation reversal. Reference your cancellation confirmation and the Consumer Protection Act. Keep copies of your demand email and any response.
Step 2: file a complaint with the national consumer commission
Visit www.thencc.org.za and download a consumer complaint form. Complete it with your details, BeenVerified's details, your cancellation proof, your written demand, and BeenVerified's refusal (if applicable). Submit the form by post, email, or online upload.
Step 3: escalate to your bank or payment processor
If you paid by credit card or debit card, contact your bank and dispute the BeenVerified charge. Provide your cancellation proof and explain that you cancelled within the statutory period and demand a refund. Banks can reverse transactions and recover your funds directly from BeenVerified.
Step 4: consider legal action or debt counselling services
For large disputed amounts, consult a debt counsellor or attorney. In South Africa, the National Debt Advisors can guide you for free. Your case may be strong enough for a lawyer to pursue on contingency.
When you need to cancel or dispute charges, knowing where to send your request is critical. Yafee emphasises that written communication-email or post-creates a paper trail that protects you.
Primary cancellation address and contact methods
| Contact method |
Details |
Best for |
| Online support form |
Visit beenverified.com/contact and submit your cancellation request via their web form. |
Fastest response; creates dated record |
| Email support |
[email protected] (verify this address in your account settings or on your receipt) |
Formal requests, refund demands, disputes |
| Mailing address |
BeenVerified, 1620 Llewellyn Street, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States |
Certified letters, formal legal notice |
| Phone support |
Check your account or confirmation email for a regional support number |
Urgent issues, clarifications |
| In-app messaging |
Log into your BeenVerified account and use the "Contact Us" or "Help" section |
Quick questions, account-specific issues |
For cancellations and refund demands, always use email or the online form. Phone calls leave no record; written requests create proof.
Deciding whether to cancel: key questions
Before you commit to cancellation, consider whether it is truly your best option or whether suspension, downgrade, or pausing might serve you better.
Reasons to cancel immediately
- You signed up on impulse and are still within the 14-day cooling-off period.
- You completed your research and no longer need background checks.
- The monthly fee is higher than you expected or can afford.
- You discovered a competitor with better features or pricing.
- You found BeenVerified's search results inaccurate or unhelpful.
- You are troubled by privacy concerns about how the service uses your data.
Reasons you might suspend or downgrade instead
- You may need the service again in a few months; pause it temporarily instead.
- You only need occasional searches; downgrade to a lower-cost plan rather than cancel.
- You worry you will forget how to reactivate it later; cancellation is reversible but requires re-signup.
Yafee recommends cancelling if you have not used the service in 30 days or longer. Free credit and "come back" offers rarely offset the cost of unused subscriptions.
Final summary and next steps
Cancelling BeenVerified in South Africa is straightforward when you follow the legal framework and platform-specific steps. Your Consumer Protection Act rights are real and enforceable. Within 14 days of purchase, you have an unconditional right to withdraw and claim a full refund. After day 14, you may still cancel, but refunds become discretionary unless you can prove a breach.
Cancel through your original payment platform (Apple App Store, Google Play, or the BeenVerified website). Document every step with screenshots and saved emails. If BeenVerified refuses your refund, escalate to the National Consumer Commission at www.thencc.org.za with your proof.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions, recover refunds, and navigate dispute resolution without frustration or delay. Visit Yafee.com to explore guides for other services, templates for refund demands, and a directory of all South African consumer protection resources. Yafee is your partner in reclaiming control over your subscriptions and your money. Yafee empowers you to cancel with confidence, knowing exactly where you stand legally and what to expect next.