LinkedIn is a popular social media platform used by professionals to network and build their careers. Many users sign up for Premium subscriptions to access additional features like InMail messaging, profile highlights, and expanded search filters. However, when some users try to cancel their paid subscriptions, they find the process difficult and confusing. There are a few key reasons why canceling a LinkedIn Premium subscription can be so problematic.
Difficulty Finding the Cancel Option
One of the main frustrations subscribers report is not being able to easily locate the cancel subscription option within their account settings. LinkedIn does not make the cancellation process straightforward. Users often have to dig through multiple menus and account pages before they can access the cancellation features.
Some users say they have spent 15-20 minutes trying to find where to cancel the subscription. The option is generally buried under “Account” then “Settings & Privacy” and finally “Account management.” For a platform that makes money through paid subscriptions, LinkedIn does not seem to want users to easily discover how to cancel their accounts.
No Option to Cancel on Mobile App
In addition to the web cancellation process being difficult to find, there is no way for users to cancel their paid subscriptions through the LinkedIn mobile app. The setting is nonexistent in the Android and iOS apps.
This creates an additional barrier to cancellation, especially for users who predominantly access LinkedIn on their mobile devices. Even if they manage to find the cancellation page on the website, the setting is not carried over or sync’d to the mobile experience.
No Straightforward Cancellation Button
When users do finally discover the cancellation page on LinkedIn’s website, there is no clear “cancel subscription” button. Instead, the page has language about “downgrading your account” and simply lists the Free membership level under the account type dropdown.
There is no obvious call-to-action button or indicator confirming you want to cancel Premium. Users often get confused about whether they have successfully canceled or not.
Automated Retention Offers
As soon as a user indicates they want to cancel Premium on the account settings page, LinkedIn deploys various retention offers trying to convince them to keep the paid subscription. Examples include:
– Discounts like 50% off the next year of Premium
– Free access to Premium for 1-3 additional months
– Reminders about the key features they will lose with the Free account
While retention offers are a standard business practice, LinkedIn bombards users with multiple consecutive offers even if they continue trying to cancel. This persistent upselling can be frustrating when users just want to complete the cancellation.
Difficulty Getting in Touch with Customer Service
Some users who get confused trying to cancel their Premium account attempt to get in touch with LinkedIn customer support for help. But reaching out to a customer service representative is yet another challenge.
LinkedIn has no phone number or live chat options listed on their website. The only way to contact them is through an online form that rarely responds or via their social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. But those responses are often automated messages that don’t resolve the issue.
Cancellation is “Pending” Indefinitely
After powering through the obstacles of discovering the cancel page, reviewing multiple retention offers, and submitting the request, some users find their account cancellation pending indefinitely.
Weeks or months go by without the Premium subscription being canceled in the system. LinkedIn’s delayed response on cancellation requests often results in users being charged for additional billing cycles they expected to be canceled.
How to Successfully Cancel LinkedIn Premium
Despite the various barriers LinkedIn implements, it is possible for users to cancel Premium subscriptions through the right steps:
Via the Website
1. Login to your LinkedIn account on the website (not the mobile app)
2. Click on the “Me” icon at the top right and select “Settings & Privacy”
3. Go to the “Account management” section and click “Change” next to your subscription
4. On the next page, change the account type to “Basic”
5. Review any retention offers and continue selecting “Cancel Premium” or “Downgrade to Basic”
6. Confirm cancellation on the verification prompt
Via Customer Service Request
1. Submit a cancellation request through LinkedIn’s online form
2. Clearly state you want to “cancel” or “terminate” your Premium subscription
3. If you receive an automated retention offer, respond reiterating you want to cancel
4. If the cancellation remains pending after 5 business days, follow up again
Canceling Automatic Payments
To ensure you are not charged again, cancel any saved payment methods on file:
1. Go to your LinkedIn Settings & Privacy > Payments
2. Click “Edit billing info” next to the payment method on file
3. Remove the credit card or PayPal account
4. Save the changes
This will stop any automatic subscription payments from being processed in the future. Monitor your bank statements and dispute any erroneous LinkedIn charges.
Get a Refund for an Accidental Renewal
If your Premium subscription renewed automatically before you managed to cancel, request a refund of those charges:
– Reach out to the LinkedIn support team through their online form
– Explain your subscription renewed before you could cancel
– Provide the transaction details like date, amount, and billing method
– Request they refund the accidental auto-renewal payment
– Follow up if you do not receive confirmation within 5-7 business days
The refund process may require patience and persistence. Keep attempting to connect with their customer service team until you get a satisfactory resolution.
Avoiding Scams While Cancelling
With so many users desperate to cancel their subscriptions, LinkedIn cancellation scams have also emerged. Avoid the following common scams:
– Fake customer support numbers – Any phone number promising to directly cancel your subscription is a scam. LinkedIn only offers customer service through online written requests.
– Cancelation fees – LinkedIn does not charge any fee to cancel Premium subscriptions. Reject any request for an upfront fee.
– Account deletion requests – Third parties may promise to delete or deactivate your entire LinkedIn account. This is unnecessary to cancel Premium and risks profile removal.
– Credit card or personal data requests – Legitimate LinkedIn support will never ask for full credit card information or other personal data via phone, email or online chat.
Preventing Accidental Premium Purchases
To avoid getting unintentionally trapped in a difficult-to-cancel Premium subscription, be vigilant when signing up for LinkedIn offers:
– Read all disclaimers carefully when redeeming Premium free trials, especially the renewal and billing terms. Set calendar reminders to cancel before the trial ends.
– Look out for sneaky checkboxes or opt-outs if purchasing Premium via Apple or Google in-app payments. Disable one-click purchases if possible.
– Use virtual credit card numbers or privacy.com fortrial offers instead of your actual payment card. This lets you easily disable the temporary card once the trial expires.
– Avoid redeeming Premium giveaways from third-parties or contests as they can transition to paid accounts without sufficient warnings.
– Enable two-factor authentication and review your security settings. Scammers sometimes use hacked accounts to purchase expensive subscriptions.
– Frequently check bank statements and report any unauthorized LinkedIn charges for refunds. This prevents those bills from going unnoticed.
Providing Feedback on the Cancellation Process
If you faced obstacles trying to cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription, make sure to provide direct feedback to LinkedIn:
– Submit a cancellation feedback form or email describing your frustrations with concrete details and examples.
– Politely explain how the confusing cancellation negatively impacted your perception of LinkedIn and their brand image.
– List specific recommendations on how LinkedIn can streamline and clarify the Premium cancellation process for future users.
– Share your cancellation challenges on social media posts, tweets, Yelp and LinkedIn reviews to bring public exposure to this issue.
– Consider reporting LinkedIn to organizations like the Better Business Bureau or Federal Trade Commission if you feel deliberately misled as a consumer.
The more users that speak up, the more motivation LinkedIn will have to address the shortcomings in their Premium cancellation user experience.
Top Alternatives to LinkedIn Premium
If you succeeded in canceling your troublesome Premium subscription, consider free alternative professional networking platforms:
Platform | Key Features |
---|---|
MentorCruise | Career coaching and resume help |
Google My Business | Free business listings and profiles |
Onalytica | Influencer marketing platform |
Hivebrite | Community management and networking |
These options allow you to build your professional network and expand your career opportunities without the Premium subscription costs.
General Job Search Sites
Mainstream job boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Monster provide robust job listings without any mandatory paid memberships. You can upload your resume, create alerts, and apply to positions for free.
Niche and Industry Networks
Specialized platforms like We Work Remotely and AngelList cater to specific professional niches like remote jobs or startup opportunities. Find free networking tailored to your field.
Career Development Sites
Resources like The Muse and FlexJobs offer free career development workshops, coaching resources, and job search tips outside of traditional networking.
Professional Association Memberships
Joining niche professional associations both online and locally can replicate the career networking benefits of Premium LinkedIn for free through member directories, job boards, and community forums.
Social Media Profiles
LinkedIn Basic, Facebook Groups, and Twitter are all free ways to establish an online professional presence and make career connections through strategic posting and engagement.
Conclusion
Canceling unwanted subscriptions can be a frustrating battle, especially with LinkedIn Premium’s obscure cancellation process. But user persistence coupled with direct feedback to LinkedIn can help simplify the cancellation experience over time. Consumers should be empowered to stop any subscription service they no longer find beneficial. Following the outlined cancellation steps and exploring free alternatives will enable you to easily move on from Premium’s limitations.