Cancel The Elder Scrolls Online: The Right Way

How to cancel The Elder Scrolls Online and protect your account in new zealand

What The Elder Scrolls Online is and how you pay for it

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game where you explore the fantasy world of Tamriel with thousands of other players. You purchase the base game once, then decide whether to add ESO Plus, a monthly subscription that unlocks DLC chapters, a Craft Bag for unlimited crafting materials, and 1650 monthly crowns (the in-game currency).

The pricing model is straightforward: buy the game outright, then layer on the optional subscription. Many New Zealand players find this flexible because you can stop your ESO Plus subscription at any time without losing your character, progress, or items. Your account and all your achievements remain safe, even if you cancel tomorrow.

ESO plus pricing and what you get

ESO Plus costs NZD $18.49 per month or NZD $165.07 per year (roughly NZD $13.76 monthly if you choose annual billing). The subscription includes access to all DLC chapters, the Craft Bag, 1650 crowns monthly, and a 10% boost to experience and crafting gains. You can cancel anytime without penalty, and you keep any crowns you've earned or purchased separately.

Where you can buy and play ESO

You can purchase and play ESO on multiple platforms: PC and Mac via the official ESO launcher, Steam, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, or mobile devices. Each platform handles billing and cancellation differently, which means your cancellation steps depend entirely on where you bought your subscription. This is where Tocancel helps thousands of New Zealand players every month find the exact cancellation method for their setup.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

Before you cancel, understand the legal protections you have as a New Zealand consumer. These rights apply to ESO Plus and safeguard you if the service fails or if billing goes wrong.

Consumer guarantees act protections

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, every service you buy in New Zealand must be of acceptable quality, fit for its stated purpose, and delivered within a reasonable time. If ESO is crashing on your platform, fails to deliver promised DLC chapters, or misleads you about what ESO Plus includes, you have grounds to request a refund or replacement. Your legal position is strong: the law sides with you, not the company, if the service doesn't work as advertised.

If you believe ESO has breached these guarantees, you can complain to the Commerce Commission (the New Zealand regulator) or seek advice from Citizens Advice Bureau. Document everything: screenshots of the problem, dates you reported it, and all communications with Bethesda Support.

The 14-day cooling-off period on PlayStation and other stores

If you bought ESO through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or other digital retailers in New Zealand, you have 14 days from purchase to cancel and request a refund, provided you have not downloaded or streamed the content. This statutory right exists under New Zealand consumer law and applies to digital products. Once you start downloading, the 14-day window closes and refunds become harder to claim.

If you purchased a subscription within the last 14 days and have not yet played substantially, act quickly and contact the retailer (PlayStation Support, Xbox Support, or Steam) directly to invoke your cooling-off right. Include your order number and the date of purchase.

What happens if a company refuses to refund you

If Bethesda, ZeniMax, or your platform denies a refund you are legally entitled to, you have escalation options. Contact the Commerce Commission or raise a complaint via Citizens Advice Bureau. Tocancel recommends keeping copies of all your communications, proof of purchase, your refund request email, and the company's response. These records are your evidence if you need to escalate further.

How to cancel The Elder Scrolls Online by platform

Your cancellation process depends on where you bought your subscription. Follow the exact steps for your platform to avoid repeated charges or confusion.

Cancel ESO plus on the official ESO website

If you subscribed directly through The Elder Scrolls Online website (elderscrollsonline.com), follow these steps:

1. Visit the official ESO website and log into your account using your Bethesda.net credentials.
2. Navigate to your Account Settings or Billing section (usually found under "My Account" or "Subscriptions").
3. Locate your ESO Plus subscription and select "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription".
4. Confirm the cancellation. The system will usually offer a final discount to keep you; you can accept or proceed with cancellation.
5. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation from Bethesda. Keep this email as proof.
6. Your subscription will end at the end of your current billing cycle; you will not be charged again.

Do not rely on simply stopping your payment method to cancel. Tocancel has helped many players who thought deleting their card would cancel ESO Plus, only to face billing issues later. Always complete the cancellation through the official portal.

Cancel ESO plus on steam

If you purchased ESO or ESO Plus through Steam, follow these steps:

1. Open Steam on your PC and log into your account.
2. Click on your username in the top-right corner and select "Account" or "View Account Details".
3. Navigate to "Subscriptions" or "Manage Subscriptions".
4. Find The Elder Scrolls Online subscription and click "Cancel Subscription".
5. Confirm the cancellation. Steam will show you when your subscription ends.
6. Check your email for a confirmation from Valve (Steam's parent company). Save this email.

Steam handles billing independently from Bethesda, so cancelling through Steam does not affect your ESO account itself. Your character and progress remain untouched. You can still play ESO after cancellation; you simply lose the subscription benefits.

Cancel ESO plus on PlayStation

If you subscribed via PlayStation Store, follow these steps:

1. On your PlayStation 4 or 5, go to Settings on the home screen.
2. Select "Users and Accounts" then "Other" then "Subscriptions".
3. Locate The Elder Scrolls Online ESO Plus subscription in your active subscriptions list.
4. Highlight the subscription and press X (or delete button) to cancel.
5. Confirm the cancellation. PlayStation will display your subscription end date.
6. You can also manage subscriptions online via your PlayStation Network account on a web browser:
   • Visit the PlayStation Network website.
   • Log in with your PSN account.
   • Go to your Profile and select "Subscriptions".
   • Click on ESO Plus and choose "Turn Off Auto-Renewal".

Remember your 14-day cooling-off right on PlayStation: if you bought ESO Plus within the last 14 days and want a refund (not just cancellation), contact PlayStation Support immediately and cite your consumer rights under New Zealand law.

Cancel ESO plus on xbox

If you subscribed on Xbox Game Pass for PC or via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, follow these steps:

1. Sign into your Xbox account on xbox.com or via your Xbox console.
2. Go to "Settings" then "Account" then "Subscriptions".
3. Find The Elder Scrolls Online subscription or Game Pass subscription (if ESO Plus is bundled).
4. Select the subscription and click "Cancel subscription" or "Manage".
5. Confirm cancellation. Xbox will confirm your subscription end date via email.
6. If using an Xbox console:
   • Press the Xbox button and go to "Profile and System" then "Settings".
   • Select "Account" then "Subscriptions".
   • Find ESO Plus and select "Manage subscription" then "Cancel".

Tocancel advises Xbox players to double-check their payment method after cancelling. Some players report that auto-renewal re-activates if their payment method changes. Review your subscriptions monthly to ensure your cancellation has held.

Cancel ESO via bethesda support if you cannot find your subscription

If you cannot locate your subscription in any platform portal, contact Bethesda Support directly:

1. Visit the Bethesda Support website (support.bethesda.net).
2. Click "Contact Us" and select "The Elder Scrolls Online".
3. Choose "Account and Subscriptions" as your issue category.
4. Describe your problem: "I want to cancel my ESO Plus subscription, but I cannot find the cancellation option in my account."
5. Submit your request. Bethesda Support typically responds within 24 to 48 hours.
6. Provide your username, email address linked to your account, and the date you started your subscription.
7. Ask Bethesda Support to confirm the cancellation in writing via email.

Bethesda Support staff can manually cancel subscriptions for you, which is especially useful if you have a billing dispute or cannot access your platform account. Always request written confirmation to protect yourself.

Understanding refunds and your options

Cancellation and refunds are two different actions. Cancelling stops future charges; a refund returns money for charges already made. Your refund eligibility depends on how recently you paid and whether you have consumed the service.

When you can request a refund

You are entitled to request a refund if:

• You purchased ESO Plus within the last 14 days and have not substantially used the service (cooling-off right).
• The subscription service is faulty, does not match the description, or breaches the Consumer Guarantees Act.
• You were charged multiple times for the same subscription due to a billing error.
• The company's refund policy explicitly allows refunds within a certain period (check your platform's terms).

Most digital subscription services do not offer refunds for partially used months; they offer cancellation (which stops future charges) instead. However, your legal rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act override this if the service is faulty or not as described.

How to request a refund from bethesda or your platform

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, contact the company in writing (email preferred) within 30 days of the charge you dispute. Include:

• Your account username and email address.
• The date of the charge you want refunded.
• Your order or transaction number.
• A clear explanation of why you believe you deserve a refund (e.g., "I purchased on [date] and cancelled within 14 days without playing" or "The subscription service was not working on my PlayStation and breaches the Consumer Guarantees Act").
• A copy of your proof of purchase or receipt.

Keep copies of every email you send and every response you receive. If the company refuses your refund, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission with your documentation. Tocancel recommends always requesting a refund in writing; avoid phone calls or live chat without follow-up emails, because these leave no evidence.

What happens to your account after you cancel

Cancelling ESO Plus does not delete your account, characters, or progress. Here is what you keep and what you lose.

What you keep after cancellation

Your account remains active and safe after you cancel ESO Plus. You keep:

• All your characters, including their levels, experience, and achievements.
• Your inventory and any items or gear you have collected.
• All crowns you purchased or earned (these do not expire).
• Your housing and any decorations you placed.
• All quest progress and storyline advancement.
• Your guild memberships and social connections.

You can log back in anytime, even years later, and pick up exactly where you left off. Your account is permanently yours unless you delete it yourself (which is a separate, intentional action).

What you lose after cancellation

When your ESO Plus subscription ends, you lose access to:

• All DLC chapters and their zones (you can still play the base game).
• The Craft Bag for infinite storage of crafting materials.
• The monthly 1650 crowns stipend.
• The 10% experience and crafting bonus.
• Priority access to some features (minor).

None of these losses are permanent. If you resubscribe to ESO Plus in the future, all these benefits return immediately, and you regain access to any DLC content you previously experienced.

Can you play ESO for free after cancelling

Yes. The Elder Scrolls Online is free-to-play for the base game. After you cancel ESO Plus, you can continue playing ESO indefinitely at no cost. You simply cannot access the DLC zones or use the Craft Bag. Thousands of New Zealand players enjoy ESO on the free base game, so cancellation does not mean you stop playing entirely unless you choose to.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling a subscription sounds simple, but small errors can lead to unexpected charges or confusion. Here are the pitfalls Tocancel has seen most often, and how to sidestep them.

Mistake 1: assuming deleting your payment method cancels the subscription

Many players remove their credit card or debit card from their account, thinking this stops the subscription. It does not. The company will attempt to charge you, fail, and typically send you a reminder email. You must actively cancel the subscription through the platform portal or contact customer support. Only then does the automatic billing stop.

Mistake 2: cancelling during a promotional period and losing the discount

If you purchased an annual ESO Plus subscription at a discounted rate, cancelling early does not entitle you to a pro-rata refund. You pay the full discounted price for the year, and that is what you owe. Check your original purchase email to confirm whether you bought a monthly or annual subscription before cancelling. Annual plans offer better value, so cancelling early might actually cost you more in the long run if you plan to re-subscribe later.

Mistake 3: not saving your cancellation confirmation email

After you cancel, the platform sends you a confirmation email. This email is your proof of cancellation. Save it to a folder or print it. If you are charged after cancellation, you need this email to dispute the charge with your bank or the platform. Without it, the company can claim you never cancelled and you will face a difficult refund conversation.

Mistake 4: confusing account deletion with subscription cancellation

Some players panic and delete their entire ESO account to stop the charges. This is permanent and irreversible. You lose everything: characters, items, progress, and crowns. Simply cancel the subscription instead; your account and all progress remain safe and can be reactivated anytime. Account deletion is only necessary if you want to permanently leave ESO forever, and Bethesda Support will warn you before it happens.

Mistake 5: not checking for secondary billing issues

If you have multiple accounts linked to the same email or payment method, you might have multiple subscriptions active. Log into each account and check for active subscriptions. This is especially common if you created a new character or account months ago and forgot about it. Cancel all active subscriptions you do not want, not just your main one.

Comparing ESO plus to other gaming subscriptions

Before you cancel, compare ESO Plus to other gaming subscriptions available in New Zealand to ensure you are making the right choice for your budget and gaming habits.

If you are cancelling because ESO Plus feels expensive, consider Game Pass instead: it includes ESO Plus and costs less, while also giving you access to dozens of other games. If you are cancelling because you have finished ESO's storyline, try Game Pass for a month to explore other titles. Tocancel helps you find the subscription that truly matches your gaming life, not just your gaming hope.

Pricing breakdown and annual vs. monthly billing

Understanding ESO Plus pricing helps you decide whether to cancel, pause, or switch to annual billing.

Monthly and annual pricing in new zealand

ESO Plus costs NZD $18.49 per month if you pay monthly, or NZD $165.07 per year if you pay annually. Annual billing saves you approximately NZD $55.82 per year (roughly NZD $4.65 monthly). If you plan to play ESO consistently for 12 months, annual billing is better value. If you are uncertain about your commitment, monthly billing gives you more flexibility.

When you cancel, you can choose not to renew at the end of your current billing cycle. If you are on annual billing and cancel today, you keep access until your subscription end date. You will not be charged again after that date.

Additional costs and crowns

ESO Plus includes 1650 crowns monthly, but you can also purchase crowns separately for cosmetics, mounts, potions, and convenience items. These crown purchases are separate from your subscription and will not be refunded if you cancel. Only the subscription fee is subject to cancellation and refund rules. Any crowns you have earned or purchased remain in your account permanently and can be spent anytime, even after you cancel ESO Plus.

Contact information and next steps for new zealand players

If you need to escalate a cancellation dispute or billing issue, here are your official contacts and the next steps to take.

Bethesda support contact

For ESO-specific account and subscription issues, contact Bethesda Support directly:

• Website: support.bethesda.net
• Select "The Elder Scrolls Online" from the dropdown.
• Choose "Account and Subscriptions" as your issue category.
• Submit a support ticket and Bethesda will respond within 24 to 48 hours.
• For billing issues, request to speak with the billing department directly.

Bethesda Support is available in English and typically handles New Zealand inquiries via email. Provide your Bethesda.net username, the email address linked to your account, and any proof of purchase or transaction numbers you have.

ZeniMax customer service postal address

If you prefer to send a formal letter, ZeniMax Media Inc. (the parent company of Bethesda) has a US postal address:

ZeniMax Customer Service
ZeniMax Media Inc.
1801 Diagonal Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
USA

Include your name, account username, email address, and a detailed description of your cancellation or billing issue. International mail to the USA typically takes 7 to 14 days. Email is faster and recommended for New Zealand players.

Escalate to the commerce commission if needed

If Bethesda or your platform refuses a refund you are legally entitled to under the Consumer Guarantees Act, you can file a complaint with the Commerce Commission:

• Website: comcom.govt.nz
• Fill out their consumer complaint form online.
• Include your cancellation request email, the company's refusal, and proof of why you believe you are entitled to a refund.
• The Commerce Commission will investigate and may require the company to refund you or provide compensation.

The Commerce Commission takes consumer rights seriously and has recovered thousands of dollars for New Zealand players in the past. You do not need a lawyer to file a complaint, and there is no cost to you.

Contact citizens advice bureau for guidance

If you are unsure about your rights or need advice on how to approach a refund dispute, Citizens Advice Bureau offers free, independent advice to New Zealand consumers:

• Website: cab.org.nz
• Phone: 0800 367 222 (free call)
• They can explain your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act and help you draft a formal complaint letter.

Citizens Advice Bureau staff understand consumer law and can help you advocate for yourself if a company refuses to comply with your legal rights.

Summary: take action and stay protected

Cancelling The Elder Scrolls Online is straightforward if you follow the exact steps for your platform and understand your consumer rights as a New Zealand player. Remember: your account, characters, and progress are safe after cancellation. You lose only the subscription benefits, and you can reactivate anytime.

Start by identifying where you bought your subscription (official ESO website, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or mobile), then follow the cancellation steps specific to that platform. Save your cancellation confirmation email. If you believe you deserve a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act, request one in writing within 30 days of the charge, and escalate to the Commerce Commission if the company refuses.

Tocancel has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers cancel gaming subscriptions, streaming services, and recurring charges. If you feel uncertain about your next step, use our platform to find the exact cancellation method for your situation and track your cancellation status. Your gaming budget is yours to control, and you have every right to cancel anytime, penalty-free. Take action today and reclaim your subscription costs.