How I Stopped Unwanted Subscriptions and Recurring Credit Card Charges for Good 

I thought getting a new credit card number would stop old subscriptions from charging me. 

Then my next statement arrived—and a problem vendor had still managed to charge me. When I called my bank, I learned about account updater services—systems that automatically send new card details to certain merchants.^[1]  In other words, just changing your card number isn’t enough anymore. 

To fully stop unwanted charges, I needed a security close—a method that blocks automatic billing updates for good. 

Why a New Card Number Doesn’t Work 

Many banks use account updater services, which allow certain merchants—like gyms and streaming services—to request and receive updated card details. Here’s how it works: 

1. Your bank issues a new card number. 
2. Merchants request updated billing information. 
3. Your bank automatically provides it. 
4. Old subscriptions keep charging your new card. 

This system is intended for convenience, ensuring essential services like internet access aren’t interrupted. But it also makes canceling unwanted subscriptions more difficult.^[2] 

It’s not always clear when a company crosses the line from helpful procedure to deliberate obstruction. Some friction in business is normal. But when companies intentionally make canceling difficult, that friction becomes sludge—a term coined by economist Richard Thaler to describe unnecessary barriers that make it harder for people to act in their own best interest.^[3] 

How Companies Use Sludge to Keep You Paying 

“Sludge” (as described by Thaler in his bestselling book “Nudge”) tactics create obstacles that delay, confuse, or discourage people from opting out. Like bad exes who refuse to let go, some banks and vendors use plausibly deniable strategies to keep customers subscribed: 

• Hidden cancellation options – Burying the cancel button deep in menus. 
• Long wait times and scripted retention calls – Forcing you to sit through endless elevator music or, worse, aggressive sales pitches before you can cancel. 
• Last-minute discount offers – Making you second-guess your decision. 

So when sludge is combined with account updater services, canceling a subscription often becomes far harder than signing up in the first place. 

What Is a Security Close? 

A security close shuts down your old credit card number completely, blocking all future charges—including subscriptions.^[4]  Banks mostly offer this option for fraud cases, but you can request it to stop unwanted recurring charges. The catch is that you’ll need to manually update payment details for services you actually want, forcing you to reconsider which subscriptions are truly necessary. 

A security close does not erase past charges. You’re still responsible for your balance and must dispute unauthorized charges separately.^[5] 

How to Request a Security Close Without Hurting Your Credit 

Closing a credit card can lower your credit score by: 

• Reducing available credit, which raises your credit utilization ratio. 
• Shortening your credit history, which can impact your score over time.[6] 

To avoid this, do not close your account entirely. Instead, ask your bank for: 

• A security close so your new card is not enrolled in account updater services. 
• Your account to remain open to preserve your credit history.^[6] 

Since this option might not be available through online banking,^[7][8] you’ll need to call customer service. 

How to Call Your Bank and Request a Security Close 

Dial your bank’s customer service number, which is usually found on the back of your card.  When you reach a representative, say: 

“I need a new card number that is not enrolled in account updater services. I want my account to stay open, but I do not want my updated payment details shared with merchants.” 

If your bank refuses, your options are: 

1. Cancel subscriptions manually before requesting a new card. 
2. Close the card entirely and accept a temporary credit score dip. 
3. Seek consumer advocacy help through organizations like the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) at www.consumeradvocates.org.^[9] 

The Subscription Reset Effect 

This process forces you to actively choose which subscriptions to keep. If a service isn’t worth the effort of re-entering your payment details, do you really need it? By taking control of how your bank updates billing, you can: 

• Stop paying for services you don’t use. 
• Prevent forgotten subscriptions from draining your budget. 
• Regain financial control. 

Subscription sludge exists to make canceling difficult—but a security close puts you back in charge.