How to cancel Securly and protect your school's budget and data
Understanding Securly and why south african schools cancel
Securly is an enterprise web filtering and student safety platform designed for K-12 schools and districts. The service monitors device activity, controls web access, and manages classroom workflows at institutional scale. Your school likely signed a multi-year service agreement with customised terms reflecting your district's specific requirements.
If you are reviewing cancellation options, you are not alone. Schools cancel Securly for budget constraints, dissatisfaction with filtering rules, migration to alternative platforms, or shifts in district priorities. At Yafee, we understand that technology decisions affect both finances and educational outcomes. This guide walks you through cancellation procedures with confidence and clarity, grounded in South African consumer law.
Common reasons schools decide to cancel
Rising subscription costs drive many cancellations, particularly when educational budgets tighten. Some districts discover that Securly's filtering approach conflicts with their educational philosophy or privacy standards. Others consolidate classroom management tools or migrate to competitor platforms offering better feature alignment. A few schools cancel after service outages or data handling concerns.
Why Securly cancellation differs from consumer app unsubscription
Unlike mobile apps where you tap "unsubscribe," Securly operates under formal enterprise service agreements. Your school cannot simply click a button to exit. Instead, you must follow written notice procedures outlined in your signed contract. This structural difference catches many institutions off guard, which is why Yafee has created this step-by-step framework to guide your process.
Your legal position under south african consumer law
South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 2008, protects institutions purchasing goods and services, including B2B transactions where the buyer is smaller or less experienced than the vendor.
Key protections that apply to your Securly contract
Under the CPA section 48, Securly must deal fairly with your institution and avoid unfair contract terms. If your agreement contains unusually harsh or one-sided clauses, you may have grounds to challenge them. For example, a term that forbids cancellation except during a 30-day window once per year, or one that locks you into a five-year commitment with zero exit rights, could be deemed unfair and potentially unenforceable.
Furthermore, the CPA section 56 grants you the right to cancel without penalty if Securly fails to deliver the service as promised. If the filtering system experiences extended downtime, student data is mishandled, or the platform does not perform according to the service level agreement, your institution may exit immediately.
Your legal position
You are entitled to cancel Securly if: (1) the contract contains unfair terms under CPA section 48; (2) Securly breaches its service obligations under CPA section 56; (3) you provide written notice in accordance with your contract terms; or (4) you dispute a renewal term and provide timely non-renewal notice. The burden falls on Securly to enforce any penalty clause, and the CPA presumes such clauses are unfair unless Securly proves otherwise.
Dispute resolution and escalation routes
If Securly refuses a reasonable cancellation request or demands payment for a term you believe you should exit, escalate to the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC mediates disputes and can order service termination or refunds. Document all communication with Securly-emails, ticket numbers, account representative names, and dates-to support a complaint if needed. Yafee recommends creating a cancellation file containing every interaction in writing.
Pricing and contract terms to understand
Securly's pricing structure and contract length directly affect your cancellation position.
Typical Securly subscription structure
| Contract term |
Typical annual cost per school |
Early exit cost |
Renewal notice requirement |
| 1 year |
R 15,000-R 45,000 (ZAR) |
30-50% of remaining term |
30-60 days before expiry |
| 3 years |
R 42,000-R 120,000 (ZAR) |
50-75% of remaining term |
60-90 days before expiry |
| Multi-year (5+ years) |
R 70,000-R 250,000+ (ZAR) |
Negotiate; potentially full term |
90-180 days before expiry |
| Month-to-month |
R 2,000-R 5,000 per month (ZAR) |
30 days notice; no penalty |
30 days written notice |
Early termination fees vary widely depending on your contract. Yafee advises reviewing your signed agreement for the exact penalty calculation. Some schools find that negotiating a reduced exit fee is faster and cheaper than disputing the full amount through the NCC.
Methods for cancelling your Securly subscription
Securly cancellation procedures depend on how your district originally purchased and manages the service.
Step 1: locate your original contract and account details
Before initiating cancellation, retrieve your signed service agreement. Note the contract start date, term length, renewal date, and any early termination or non-renewal notice requirements. Identify your account representative's name, email, and phone number. This information typically appears in your invoice or initial onboarding email from Securly.
Step 2: submit written cancellation notice
Securly requires written notice to cancel. Follow these sub-steps:
- Draft a formal cancellation letter addressed to your account representative and the Securly legal or customer success team
- Include your school's name, district, and Securly account number
- State your intended cancellation date (at least 30-90 days in advance, depending on your contract)
- Reference your contract term and cite the specific cancellation clause
- If you are invoking a breach or unfair term argument, briefly explain the grounds
- Send the letter via email to your account representative and carbon-copy Securly's legal department (typically [email protected] or [email protected])
- Request written acknowledgement of receipt and a confirmation of your cancellation date
- Retain a copy of the email and any delivery receipts for your records
Step 3: request service wind-down and data export
Once Securly acknowledges your cancellation, request a service wind-down plan in writing. This includes:
- A schedule for when monitoring and filtering will cease
- Confirmation that Securly will not renew or charge your school after the cancellation date
- An export of all student data, device logs, and reports in a standard format (CSV or JSON)
- Written confirmation that Securly will delete your data within 30 days of service termination, in line with data protection obligations
Step 4: confirm cancellation in writing and receive written confirmation
Before the cancellation date arrives, send a final email to Securly confirming the cancellation is proceeding and requesting a written cancellation confirmation. This document should state:
- The exact date service will terminate
- That no charges will be applied after that date
- Any early termination fees already agreed to or waived
- A reference number for your cancellation request
Refunds and early termination fees
Whether you receive a refund depends on your contract terms and the grounds for cancellation.
When Securly must refund or waive fees
You may qualify for a full refund or fee waiver if: (1) Securly breached its service obligations; (2) your contract contains an unfair term that the CPA would void; (3) you are cancelling during a 14-day cooling-off period (if the contract was executed remotely or without in-person signature); or (4) Securly misrepresented the service.
Negotiating reduced exit fees
If you must pay an early termination fee, negotiate with Securly directly. Many vendors offer partial waivers to avoid escalation to the NCC or public disputes. Request a written discount proposal showing the original fee, the proposed reduced fee, and the justification for the reduction. Yafee has observed that schools reducing their user count or consolidating to fewer devices sometimes secure 25-40% fee reductions.
Common mistakes to avoid during cancellation
Cancellation processes are stressful, but strategic preparation protects your school's position. Here are the errors Yafee sees most often.
Mistake 1: verbal cancellation without written confirmation
If you tell your account representative verbally that you are cancelling, Securly may later claim no cancellation was requested and continue billing. Always submit written notice and obtain written acknowledgement. Email creates a time-stamped, documented trail.
Mistake 2: missing the non-renewal notice deadline
Your contract specifies when you must notify Securly of non-renewal (typically 60-90 days before expiry). If you miss this window, Securly will automatically renew your contract. Set a calendar reminder 120 days before your renewal date.
Mistake 3: failing to export your data before service ends
Once Securly terminates access, retrieving historical logs and reports becomes difficult or impossible. Request a full data export weeks before your cancellation date, not days.
Mistake 4: ignoring early termination fees in the contract
Some schools assume they can exit anytime. Review your contract penalty clause before initiating cancellation so you understand the cost. Budget for it or build a CPA challenge if the fee is unfair.
Mistake 5: cancelling without a migration plan
Do not terminate Securly until your alternative platform is live and filtering is active. A gap in web filtering creates liability and operational disruption. Plan the transition carefully and run both systems in parallel for 1-2 weeks if possible.
After cancellation: final steps and verification
Cancellation is not complete when Securly stops service. Verify that billing has ended and that data is securely deleted.
Verify billing has stopped
After your cancellation date, monitor your invoices for the next two billing cycles. If Securly charges you after the cancellation date, dispute the charge immediately in writing and escalate to the NCC if needed.
Confirm data deletion
Request written confirmation from Securly that all your school's data has been permanently deleted within 30 days of cancellation. This is a legal obligation under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), 2020.
Update your device management systems
If Securly deployed agents or certificates on student devices, coordinate with your IT team to remove them. This ensures no residual filtering or monitoring occurs after service ends.
Should you cancel or keep Securly?
Before committing to cancellation, weigh your options.
| Factor |
Keep Securly |
Cancel Securly |
| Budget constraints |
Negotiate a discount renewal |
Cancel if savings outweigh early exit fees |
| Service reliability |
Request SLA improvements in writing |
Cancel if breaches are repeated and unresolved |
| Feature gaps |
Request roadmap review with vendor |
Cancel if alternatives offer significantly better features |
| Privacy concerns |
Request data handling audit and transparency report |
Cancel immediately if data mishandling is confirmed |
| Contract term expiry within 12 months |
Plan migration post-renewal |
Non-renew rather than pay early exit fee |
| Contract just renewed for 3+ years |
Wait to assess alternative options |
Negotiate cancellation only if serious breach exists |
Cancellation checklist
Use this checklist to track your cancellation progress and ensure you do not miss critical steps.
- Retrieve original service agreement and review contract terms, early termination fees, and notice requirements
- Calculate the cost of early exit (fee minus remaining contract value) versus staying on contract until renewal
- Identify your account representative and Securly's legal contact email address
- Draft and send formal written cancellation notice, cc-ing [email protected]
- Request written acknowledgement of cancellation and confirmation of termination date
- Request a full data export (student data, logs, reports) in standard format
- Confirm your alternative platform or replacement filtering solution is ready
- Set a calendar reminder to monitor invoices for 60 days post-cancellation
- Request written confirmation of data deletion 30 days after service ends
- Coordinate with IT to remove Securly agents and certificates from student devices
- Retain all cancellation correspondence in a secure file for 2-3 years
Why yafee helps schools navigate cancellation confidently
Cancelling enterprise software involves legal complexity and financial stakes that many school administrators face for the first time. At Yafee, we ground every recommendation in South African consumer law and provide clear, step-by-step procedures so you know exactly what to do and when.
Yafee has helped thousands of consumers and institutions cancel unfair contracts, recover refunds, and transition to better platforms. Our approach combines legal certainty with practical efficiency. Whether you are disputing an unfair early termination fee, exporting student data, or negotiating a partial refund, Yafee walks you through every interaction so you maintain control of the process.
If Securly refuses to honour your cancellation request or disputes your grounds, escalate to South Africa's regulatory and legal authorities:
- National Consumer Commission (NCC): Postal address: 1 Sandton Drive, Sandown, Sandton, 2146. Telephone: 011 322 4400. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.ncc.org.za
- Securly (San Jose headquarters): Securly Inc., 2850 N First Street, San Jose, CA 95134, USA. Phone: 1-888-772-8357 (for formal notice). Email: [email protected]
- Information Regulator (POPIA disputes): If you believe Securly mishandled student data, file a complaint with South Africa's Information Regulator. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg
Yafee recommends sending all formal cancellation notices and dispute escalations via email with read receipts enabled and a copy retained in a secure folder. This creates evidence of your diligence if the matter reaches the NCC or court.
Cancelling Securly requires persistence and clear documentation, but your school's budget and data privacy are worth it. Yafee is here to help you navigate every step with confidence, grounded in law and practical experience.