Cancel Carbonmade: The Right Way

How to cancel Carbonmade and protect your creative work during exit

Why creatives use Carbonmade and when cancellation makes sense

Carbonmade is a subscription-based portfolio platform built for visual professionals - designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creatives who need a polished online presence without coding knowledge. The service handles hosting, templates, and site management, letting you focus on showcasing your projects beautifully.

You might use Carbonmade to attract clients, maintain a professional portfolio, or manage multiple project galleries across tiered subscription plans. However, circumstances change. Budget cuts, platform switches, or shifting business needs often prompt you to cancel. Understanding your cancellation rights under South African consumer law empowers you to exit cleanly and recover any unused credit you're entitled to.

Who typically subscribes to Carbonmade

Carbonmade users range from students building their first portfolio to established creative agencies managing extensive project archives. The platform's scalability - from 8 projects on the Beginner plan to unlimited projects on the Unlimited tier - attracts creatives at every career stage.

Common reasons you might cancel

You cancel Carbonmade when your business priorities shift: moving to WordPress or another content management system, reducing monthly subscriptions to cut costs, or finding a competitor platform that better fits your workflow. Whatever your reason, you have the right to cancel, and Tocancel is here to guide you through the process with confidence and clarity.

Carbonmade pricing breakdown and your current billing

Before deciding whether to cancel, review exactly what you're paying and what each tier delivers, so you can make an informed choice.

Subscription plans in south african rands

Carbonmade charges in USD, so your ZAR amount fluctuates with exchange rates. The table below shows approximate monthly costs in South African rands to help you evaluate your spending.

How to locate your exact billing amount

Log into your Carbonmade account and navigate to Account settings, then select Plan or Billing. You'll see your current subscription tier, next billing date, and the exact amount Carbonmade will charge. Your bank statement will show the converted ZAR amount, which may vary slightly month to month due to exchange fluctuations. Record this information before you cancel, as you'll need it to track refund eligibility.

Should you cancel or downgrade Carbonmade

Deciding whether to cancel outright or downgrade to a cheaper plan depends on whether you still need an online portfolio presence.

Reasons to keep your Carbonmade subscription

If you actively use your portfolio to win clients, showcase ongoing work, or maintain a professional web presence, cancelling immediately removes your site from the internet. Your work becomes inaccessible to potential clients unless you've already migrated your content elsewhere. Downgrading to the Beginner plan (R171-R180 monthly) may be a smarter move if budget is your only concern.

Reasons to cancel Carbonmade

Cancel if you no longer need an online portfolio, you've fully migrated to a new platform, or the monthly cost no longer aligns with your business model. You might also cancel if you prefer building your own website using WordPress, Shopify, or another CMS where you own the underlying infrastructure. Cancellation is the right choice when staying subscribed delivers no ongoing value.

The downgrade option: preserve your work and reduce cost

Before you cancel, explore whether downgrading solves your problem. Dropping from Pro (R228-R240) to Beginner (R171-R180) saves you roughly R50-R70 per month while keeping your portfolio live. You'll lose access to custom domains and priority support, but your projects remain online and viewable. This approach suits you if cost is the issue but you still need a web presence. Evaluate your actual project count against each plan's limits to determine if downgrading is viable.

Your consumer rights under south african law when cancelling

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 68 of 2008 grants you specific rights when you cancel any subscription service, including Carbonmade. Understanding these rights ensures you don't accept unfair terms and can escalate complaints if the company resists your cancellation request.

Your legal position and what the CPA requires

Under the Consumer Protection Act, you have the right to cancel a continuous subscription (a contract that renews automatically) within 40 business days of signing up, with no penalty. After that cooling-off period, you may cancel at any time by providing written notice to Carbonmade. The company must acknowledge your cancellation in writing and should process any refund of prepaid amounts within 15 business days. If Carbonmade refuses to cancel your account or withholds a refund you're entitled to, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) is your escalation authority - they enforce consumer rights across South Africa and can impose penalties on non-compliant businesses.

Your right to a refund for unused service

If you cancel mid-billing cycle, you're entitled to a refund for any prepaid subscription time you haven't used. For example, if you've paid for a full month but cancel 10 days in, Carbonmade must refund you for the remaining 20 days of service (calculated on a daily basis). Many companies try to avoid refunding unused portions - don't accept this. Tocancel recommends documenting your cancellation date and requesting an itemized refund calculation in writing so you have proof if you need to escalate to the NCC later.

How to enforce your cancellation rights if the company resists

If Carbonmade ignores your cancellation request, continues billing you, or refuses to refund unused service, you have recourse. First, send a formal written demand to their corporate address (detailed below) citing the Consumer Protection Act and requesting cancellation plus refund within 10 business days. Keep a copy and proof of delivery. If they don't respond, lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission online at complaints.ncc.org.za or contact them directly. The NCC can investigate, mediate, and ultimately impose fines on Carbonmade if they've breached your consumer rights. Your legal position is strong - the CPA puts the burden on the company to prove they've acted fairly.

How to cancel Carbonmade: step-by-step instructions

Follow these clear, sequential steps to cancel your Carbonmade account and protect your interests throughout the process.

Before you cancel: backup your work and gather information

1. Log into your Carbonmade account and download or export all your portfolio images, project descriptions, and custom content. Carbonmade does not automatically provide this data after cancellation, so preserve everything now.
   • Navigate to each project and take screenshots or download media files you want to keep.
   • Note any custom domain you've set up so you can reassign it to a new provider if needed.
   • Record your current subscription plan name and billing date from Account settings.
2. Take a final screenshot of your Carbonmade Account > Billing page showing your next charge date and amount. You'll need this proof if you later dispute a charge or claim a refund.
3. Review your billing history and note any unused credit or promotional balance remaining on your account.

Submitting your cancellation request

1. From your Carbonmade account dashboard, locate Account settings or Plan settings. Look for a "Cancel subscription" or "Delete account" link - many services bury this option, so check the footer or help section if you can't find it immediately.
   • If no online cancellation option exists, skip to step 2 below.
2. If an online cancellation tool appears, click it and follow the prompts. Carbonmade may offer a discount or downgrade option to retain you - decline this if you're certain you want to cancel.
   • Select your cancellation reason from the dropdown (optional, but answering helps Carbonmade improve).
   • Confirm your cancellation request. The system should display a confirmation message.
   • Screenshot this confirmation and save it.
3. If no online cancellation option is available, send a formal written email to Carbonmade's support address requesting cancellation. Use the company's customer service email (usually [email protected] or similar; check their website's Contact page for the current address).
   • Include your full name, email address associated with your account, and the specific date you want the cancellation to take effect.
   • State clearly: "I request cancellation of my Carbonmade subscription effective [date]. Please confirm receipt of this request and provide written confirmation of cancellation and any refund due."
   • Keep a copy of this email for your records.

Following up and confirming cancellation

1. Monitor your email for Carbonmade's response confirming your cancellation request. This should arrive within 2-3 business days. If you don't receive confirmation within 5 business days, resend your cancellation request or escalate (see section below).
2. Check your bank account around your next scheduled billing date to confirm Carbonmade has not charged you again. If a charge appears after you've cancelled, immediately dispute it with your bank and supply them with your cancellation confirmation email.
3. Verify that your portfolio is no longer live on the web by visiting your Carbonmade URL after the cancellation effective date. It should display an error or blank page, confirming the site has been removed.
4. If Carbonmade promised a refund for unused service, track when it should arrive (within 15 business days of cancellation under the Consumer Protection Act). If it doesn't appear within that window, contact your bank or escalate to the NCC.

Refunds and what you can expect to receive

Carbonmade's refund policy depends on when in your billing cycle you cancel and whether their terms permit refunds for early termination.

When you're entitled to a refund

Under the Consumer Protection Act, you're entitled to a refund for any prepaid service you haven't yet used. If you cancel mid-cycle - say, on day 10 of a 30-day billing period - Carbonmade must calculate and refund your unused portion. The company cannot retain your payment just because you cancelled. Some subscription providers claim "no refunds after 7 days" in their terms, but this clause conflicts with South African consumer law and is unenforceable. Tocancel recommends requesting your refund in writing and citing the Consumer Protection Act if the company tries to deny it.

Refund timeline and method

Carbonmade should process your refund within 15 business days of your cancellation confirmation date. The refund should return to the credit card or bank account you used to pay. If you paid via PayPal, Stripe, or another third-party payment processor, the refund may go to that platform first before reaching your account. Check your bank statement and original payment method closely. If 15 business days pass and no refund appears, contact Carbonmade's support with your cancellation confirmation and demand written explanation of the delay.

How to claim a refund if Carbonmade refuses

If Carbonmade denies your refund claim, respond with a formal letter citing the Consumer Protection Act Section 3(1)(d), which guarantees fair trading and honest dealing. State the amount owed, your cancellation date, and your calculation of unused service. Send this to Carbonmade's corporate address (listed at the end of this guide) and to [email protected] via email. If Carbonmade still refuses within 10 business days, file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unfairly and recover refunds they deserve - you're not alone in fighting this.

What happens to your work and account after cancellation

Cancelling Carbonmade removes your portfolio from the public internet but doesn't instantly delete your data from their servers.

Your portfolio becomes inaccessible immediately

Once your cancellation takes effect, your Carbonmade portfolio URL will no longer display your work publicly. Visitors will see an error or blank page. This happens within hours or days of your cancellation date, depending on Carbonmade's processing speed. If you haven't migrated your portfolio elsewhere, your online presence disappears. This is why backing up your work (as detailed above) is essential - you can't recover deleted content after the account closes.

How long Carbonmade retains your data

Carbonmade's privacy policy typically states they retain your account data for 30-90 days after cancellation, then permanently delete it. During this window, you may request a final export of your content if you missed it earlier. After the retention period ends, your projects, images, and metadata are gone. Contact Carbonmade's support immediately if you need to recover something you forgot to back up.

Reactivating your account if you change your mind

Most subscription services allow you to reactivate a cancelled account within 30-90 days by logging back in and resuming your subscription. However, once the company permanently deletes your data, reactivation won't restore your old projects - they're gone. Carbonmade does not guarantee reactivation is possible, so treat cancellation as permanent unless the company explicitly states otherwise in writing.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling Carbonmade

Cancellation frustration is real, and it's easy to make errors that delay your exit or cost you money. Here's what to watch out for.

Mistake 1: cancelling without backing up your work

Never cancel before exporting your portfolio projects, images, and text. Once your account closes and the data retention period expires, Carbonmade will not recover deleted content for you, even if you pay. Spend 30 minutes downloading everything before you submit a cancellation request. This is non-negotiable.

Mistake 2: using only the online cancellation tool and expecting confirmation

If Carbonmade offers an online cancellation button, click it, but also send a follow-up email to support requesting written confirmation. Some companies process online cancellations but "forget" to actually stop billing. Having an email trail proves you acted in good faith and gives you evidence if you need to dispute a charge later.

Mistake 3: cancelling without recording your billing date and amount

Take a screenshot of your Carbonmade billing page showing your subscription plan, next charge date, and amount before you cancel. If Carbonmade continues billing you (which happens), you'll need this proof to dispute the charge with your bank. Without it, your bank may assume you were a willing subscriber.

Mistake 4: accepting carbonmade's "no refund" claim without pushing back

If Carbonmade says they don't offer refunds, don't accept this answer. The Consumer Protection Act overrides company policy - you're entitled to a refund for unused service regardless of what their terms say. Respond in writing citing the law, and escalate to the NCC if they still refuse.

Mistake 5: failing to verify that the subscription has actually stopped

Confirm that Carbonmade has genuinely cancelled your account by checking your bank statement on your next scheduled billing date. If a charge appears, immediately dispute it. Also verify that your portfolio URL is offline. Don't assume cancellation is complete just because you received a confirmation email - companies sometimes fail to actually process cancellations despite confirming them.

Escalation: what to do if Carbonmade refuses to cancel or refund

If Carbonmade ignores your cancellation request, continues charging you, or withholds a refund you're legally entitled to, you have a clear escalation path.

Step 1: send a formal written demand

Email Carbonmade's support address with the subject line "Formal Cancellation Demand - [Your Name]". State clearly: "I formally request cancellation of my Carbonmade subscription, effective [date]. I also request a refund of [amount] for unused service, in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. Please respond within 10 business days with written confirmation of cancellation and refund details." Keep a copy and send via email so you have a timestamped record.

Step 2: escalate to the national consumer commission if Carbonmade doesn't respond

If Carbonmade ignores your demand or refuses to comply within 10 business days, file a formal complaint with the National Consumer Commission. You can lodge a complaint online at complaints.ncc.org.za, call 0800 035 071, or email [email protected]. The NCC will investigate whether Carbonmade has violated your consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act. If the NCC finds against Carbonmade, they can order the company to cancel your account, refund your money, and pay a fine. This process is free and open to any South African consumer.

Step 3: dispute the charge with your bank

If Carbonmade has continued billing you after your cancellation request, immediately contact your bank's fraud or dispute department. Provide them with your cancellation confirmation email and the screenshot of your billing page. Banks can reverse charges if you prove you tried to cancel in good faith. This is a powerful tool - most banks process disputes within 7-14 business days and will credit your account provisionally while they investigate.

Carbonmade contact information and mailing address

Use these details to send formal cancellation and refund requests.

Always send formal cancellation requests to [email protected] with "Cancellation Request" in the subject line. Request written confirmation of receipt and include your account email address, full name, and desired cancellation date. Keep a copy of every communication - this documentation is your protection if you need to escalate.

Key takeaways: your cancellation checklist

Use this final checklist to ensure you cancel Carbonmade correctly and protect yourself throughout the process.

Final thoughts: you have the right to cancel with confidence

Cancelling Carbonmade is your right, not a favour the company grants. South African consumer law - specifically the Consumer Protection Act - ensures you can exit any subscription fairly, recover prepaid amounts, and escalate if the company resists. You don't need permission; you need clear action and documentation.

Tocancel is built to help you navigate exactly this kind of situation. We've compiled step-by-step guidance, identified your legal protections, and highlighted the common traps that cost consumers money and time. Whether you're downgrading to a cheaper plan, migrating your portfolio elsewhere, or simply reducing expenses, Tocancel empowers you with knowledge and practical next steps. Follow the checklist above, keep copies of all communications, and don't hesitate to escalate to the National Consumer Commission if Carbonmade fails to honour your rights. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unfairly charged subscriptions and recover refunds they deserve - and we're here to help you too. Take action today, document everything, and take back control of your subscription spending.