Relatio markets itself as a relationship advice app designed to help people through breakups and relationship struggles. What it doesn't advertise clearly is that signing up can lock you into an automatic subscription you never knowingly agreed to. Suddenly, charges of 49.99 pond or more appear on your bank statement — and you have no idea why.
This isn't a rare technical glitch. It's a pattern. People sign up thinking they've made a one-time payment or started a free trial, only to find recurring charges weeks later. Some were explicitly told they were getting a lifetime subscription. Others watched a 20,- pond charge quietly become 49.99 pond with zero warning. A few were hit with charges in dollars despite living in Europe. The frustration — and the financial damage — is very real.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, what your rights are, and how to make sure you don't get charged again. I've helped hundreds of people navigate exactly this kind of situation. The steps below are the ones that actually work.
Quick Overview: Most Important Warnings and Steps
Before you do anything else, read these bullet points. They could save you from making the situation worse.
• Check your bank statement immediately. Note the exact charge amounts and dates — you'll need this for any dispute.
• Do not just delete the app. Deleting the Relatio app does NOT cancel your subscription. You will keep getting charged.
• Screenshot everything. Before you cancel, take screenshots of your account, your subscription status, and any correspondence. This is your evidence.
• Act before your next billing date. Find out when you'll be charged next and make sure your cancellation is confirmed before that date arrives.
• You have consumer rights. If you were charged without clear consent, you are entitled to challenge the payment — more on that below.
• Contact your bank if charges are unauthorised. If Relatio charged you without your knowledge or consent, your bank can initiate a chargeback.
• Time to Cancel is the easiest way to handle this. If the cancellation process feels overwhelming or you're not sure your request went through, Time to Cancel can handle it for you quickly and reliably.
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Most Common Problems When Cancelling Relatio
Let's be honest about what's actually happening here. Based on real user experiences, there are three major problems people run into with Relatio.
The 'lifetime subscription' bait-and-switch. Multiple users report being told — explicitly — that they were purchasing a lifetime subscription. No renewals, no ongoing charges. Then €49.99 appears on their account the following month. And the month after that. When you reach out to customer support, you're often met with silence or vague responses that don't touch the actual issue.
Automatic price escalation without notice. Some users paid a lower introductory amount — say €20 — only to see the renewal charge jump to €49.99 without any clear notification. The terms might technically allow for this buried somewhere in the fine print, but that doesn't make it acceptable. Under EU consumer protection law, pricing changes need to be communicated clearly and in advance.
Charges in the wrong currency without consent. Several users based in Europe reported being charged in US dollars — amounts like $58 — without ever agreeing to that currency or that amount. This is a significant red flag. When you're charged in a foreign currency without consent, your bank may treat this differently, and it strengthens your chargeback case considerably.
The refund process is deliberately difficult. Rather than a simple refund button or a responsive support team, Relatio appears to route complaints through multiple forms and submission processes. This is a classic dark pattern — making it exhausting enough that some people just give up. Don't give up. The steps below will help you push through it.
Before You Cancel: What You Need to Know
Preparation makes a real difference here. Going in without the right information often means the cancellation doesn't stick — or you miss a refund window entirely.
Gather your payment details. Pull up your bank or credit card statement and find every charge from Relatio. Note the exact dates, amounts, and the name that appears on the transaction. Sometimes it won't say 'Relatio' — it might be a payment processor name. Cross-reference with the date you signed up.
Find your subscription confirmation email. When you first signed up, you should have received a confirmation email. It may contain details about your subscription type, billing cycle, and the terms you agreed to. If it stated 'lifetime' or 'one-time payment,' that's incredibly useful evidence — hold onto it.
Identify your billing method. Did you pay via credit card, PayPal, or through the Apple App Store or Google Play? This matters. Each platform has a different cancellation process. If you paid through Apple or Google, you'll need to cancel through those platforms — cancelling directly with Relatio won't stop charges processed through the app stores.
Know your billing cycle. If your next charge is in three days, you need to move fast. Cancellations often don't prevent a charge that's already in process. Knowing your cycle lets you act before the next deduction hits.
Check what you actually agreed to. Before contacting Relatio, review any terms of service or signup confirmation you received. If the terms don't clearly disclose the subscription pricing and auto-renewal, that's a consumer rights issue you can escalate.
Step-by-Step: How to Cancel Relatio
Follow these steps in order. Don't skip ahead — especially the documentation steps.
Step 1: Log into your Relatio account.
Go to https://getrelatio.com/ and log in with the credentials you used when you signed up. Navigate to your account settings or profile section.
Step 2: Find your subscription settings.
Look for a section labelled 'Subscription,' 'Billing,' or 'My Plan.' This is where your current subscription status should be displayed. Take a screenshot of this page before making any changes.
Step 3: Initiate the cancellation.
Look for a 'Cancel Subscription' or 'Manage Subscription' button. Click it and follow the prompts all the way through. Do not stop halfway — make sure you reach a confirmation screen or receive a confirmation email. If you don't get confirmation, assume the cancellation didn't go through.
Step 4: If you subscribed via Apple App Store.
Go to Settings on your iPhone > tap your name > Subscriptions > find Relatio > tap Cancel Subscription. This must be done through Apple's system, not through the Relatio app itself.
Step 5: If you subscribed via Google Play.
Open the Google Play Store app > tap your profile icon > Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions > find Relatio > tap Cancel Subscription.
Step 6: If you subscribed via PayPal.
Log into PayPal > go to Settings > Payments > Manage Automatic Payments > find Relatio and cancel the billing agreement directly.
Step 7: Send a written cancellation request.
Regardless of whether you cancelled through the app or platform, send a written cancellation email directly to Relatio's support team. State your full name, email address used for the account, and your intention to cancel with immediate effect. Request written confirmation. Keep this email — it matters later if you need to dispute anything.
Step 8: Monitor your bank account.
Over the next 7–14 days, keep an eye on your statement. If another charge appears after your cancellation confirmation, you have clear grounds for a chargeback.
For support on your consumer rights during this process, the UK Government's consumer protection guidance at https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights is a solid starting point. Money Saving Expert also has an excellent breakdown of your refund and exchange rights at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/ — especially useful if Relatio pushes back on your refund request.
What If Something Goes Wrong? Complaints, Refunds and Escalation
Sometimes the cancellation process doesn't go smoothly. Relatio may not respond. A charge may still go through. Customer support may give you the runaround. Here's what to do.
If Relatio doesn't respond to your cancellation or refund request:
Give them 48–72 hours to reply. If you hear nothing, follow up in writing again and clearly state that you will escalate to your bank and to consumer protection authorities if the matter isn't resolved within a set timeframe — say, five business days. Put it in writing every time. Keep all emails.
If you've been charged after cancelling:
Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately. Explain that you cancelled the subscription and were still charged. Request a chargeback. Most UK and EU banks will process this within a few days to a few weeks. If you paid via PayPal, open a dispute through the Resolution Centre.
If you were charged without ever consenting to a subscription:
This is potentially fraud. Report it to your bank and consider filing a complaint with your national consumer protection authority. In the UK, that's Citizens Advice and Trading Standards. In the EU, each country has its own consumer protection body.
If the charge was in a currency you didn't agree to:
This strengthens your chargeback case. Document the currency discrepancy and mention it explicitly when speaking to your bank. Don't leave that detail out — it matters.
Struggling with the process? Time to Cancel specialises in exactly this kind of situation. They can take on the cancellation process for you, handle the back-and-forth with Relatio, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks. If you've already spent hours trying to sort this out, handing it over to Time to Cancel is genuinely the most efficient move.
Your Consumer Rights When Cancelling Relatio
This section matters. A lot of people don't realise how much protection they actually have — and companies like Relatio count on that.
EU Consumer Rights Directive. If you're based in the EU, you have a 14-day cooling-off period on digital subscriptions where no service has been fully delivered. If Relatio did not clearly disclose the subscription terms at the point of purchase, this window may apply even after 14 days.
UK Consumer Rights Act. In the UK, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you strong protections against unfair contract terms. A subscription that was not clearly disclosed — or that was described as 'lifetime' and then billed monthly — could be considered an unfair term. The UK Government's consumer protection page at https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights outlines your rights in plain language.
Chargeback rights. Whether you're in the UK or EU, if you paid by credit or debit card, you have chargeback rights. Your bank can reverse a payment made to a merchant if the service wasn't delivered as described or if you were charged without consent. This is not the same as a refund from Relatio — it comes directly from your bank, regardless of whether Relatio cooperates.
GDPR and data rights. If you want Relatio to delete your personal data, you can submit a Subject Access Request and a Right to Erasure request under GDPR. This is separate from cancelling your subscription but worth doing once the financial side is resolved.
Automatic renewal disclosure. Under EU law, companies must clearly disclose auto-renewal terms before purchase — not buried in terms and conditions pages. If Relatio failed to do this transparently, that is a breach of consumer protection regulations and supports any complaint or chargeback you make.
Money Saving Expert has a particularly clear guide on how to use these rights in practice, covering refunds, exchanges, and disputed charges: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/.
Alternatives to Relatio
Once you've cancelled Relatio, you might still be looking for genuine support after a breakup or a difficult relationship period. There are legitimate options out there — ones that are upfront about their pricing and don't rely on confusing subscription structures.
Licensed therapy and counselling. Many platforms connect you with qualified relationship therapists. These services are transparent about their costs and typically let you pay per session rather than locking you into a subscription.
Free resources. The NHS in the UK offers free mental health support and signposting. Mind (mind.org.uk) and Relate (relate.org.uk) both provide relationship support and counselling, often at low cost or free for those who qualify.
Self-help books and podcasts. There's a huge amount of high-quality content available at no cost from credentialed relationship psychologists and therapists. Honestly, these are often more genuinely useful than app-based advice — and they won't charge your card without warning.
Community support. Forums and peer support communities can be incredibly helpful during a difficult time. These are almost always free and moderated to ensure quality.
Support after a breakup shouldn't come with hidden charges and auto-renewals. You deserve services that are honest about what they're offering.
