After a loss

Cancelling subscriptions (Netflix, gym and the rest)

The small charges add up, and some are hard to find.

Subscriptions often keep charging long after someone dies. Many are small, so they're easy to miss, and they can go on for months on a card nobody is watching.

Where to find them

• Credit card and bank statements: recurring charges each month or year
• The person's email: receipts, renewal notices and "your plan has been renewed" messages
• Apple or Google subscriptions on their phone
• PayPal or Amazon account settings
• Paper mail: magazines, memberships and charities

How cancelling usually works

Many services can be cancelled by logging into the account. Without the login, most companies will cancel with a phone call or online form, a copy of the death certificate and proof of the caller's role. Some ask for less.

Gyms and some memberships have contracts. Many will end them early after a death, but it's worth asking.

Ones that may be worth keeping for a bit

• Cloud storage holding photos or documents, until they're downloaded
• Email, until accounts and bills are sorted
• Home security, if the house is empty