Cancel PC Protect the easy way

Overview

PC Protect is a consumer antivirus and security software service operated under PC PROTECT ANTIVIRUS LIMITED and part of the PROTECTED.NET GROUP LIMITED group. The product family covers malware scanning, web protection, and device optimization for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices.

Main products

PC Protect offers a Free tier and multiple paid plans including annual and monthly subscriptions. Paid plans advertise real-time protection, ransomware protection and VPN on some tiers. Promotional pricing may apply to the first term and renewals occur automatically unless cancelled.

Company facts

Online Portal - detailed steps

1. Open the PC Protect secure Online Portal on the PC Protect website.
2. Log in with your account email and password.
3. Complete two-factor authentication when prompted (code sent by email).
4. Locate the subscription management area and choose to disable auto-renewal or select Cancel/Terminate.
5. Save changes and take a screenshot of confirmation. Expect service to remain active until the end of the paid period.

iOS (Apple App Store) - detailed steps

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap Subscriptions and find "PC Protect" in the list.
3. Tap Cancel Subscription and follow Apple's on-screen confirmation.
4. Keep the Apple confirmation email as proof. Refunds for App Store purchases are handled by Apple.

Android (Google Play) - detailed steps

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon, then Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
3. Select PC Protect and tap Cancel subscription, then confirm.
4. Save the Google Play cancellation confirmation email or screenshot.

Phone cancellation - detailed steps

1. Call 01202 805 000.
2. State your account email, purchase date and invoice number where available.
3. Request that the agent disable auto-renewal or cancel the plan and ask for a confirmation email or reference number.
4. If requesting a refund, confirm eligibility and ask how long refund processing will take.

Post (written notice) - detailed steps

1. Write a clear cancellation letter including your full name, account email, purchase date and request to cancel the subscription.
2. Send the letter by recorded delivery to: PC Protect, 123 High Street, BH15 1DF Poole, United Kingdom.
3. Keep proof of postage and allow 30 days written notice prior to the contract anniversary as required by PC Protect terms.

Cooling-off right (change of mind within 14 days)

Rule: You have an unconditional right to cancel a distance contract within 14 calendar days of purchase under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. If you cancel within 14 days and the service has not been used, you are entitled to a full refund.

Required proof documents: account email, purchase date, invoice number, and confirmation that the service was not used.

Reference: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

Refund after cooling-off (time limits)

Rule: PC Protect publishes a money-back guarantee. Annual or biannual plans are eligible for a full refund within 30 days of the initial purchase or renewal date. Monthly and quarterly subscriptions are eligible for a full refund within 14 days of initial purchase or renewal. Turning off auto-renewal does not automatically issue a refund.

Required proof documents: account email, purchase date, invoice number, and a support request via the Online Portal or support contact.

Price increase

Rule: If PC Protect increases the price at renewal in a way that is not permitted by the contract, you may request to terminate the contract as a contractual change. PC Protect's published terms do not publicly list a special unilateral termination process for price increases; check your subscription notice emails for any contractual change notice.

Required proof documents: the notice of price increase received from PC Protect and your original plan details.

Death of subscriber

Rule: PC Protect's public terms do not explicitly state a dedicated process for cancellation after the death of a subscriber. To request termination on this ground, send a written request with a copy of the death certificate and proof of relationship or administration rights to the cancellation address.

Required proof documents: death certificate, executor or representative ID, account email or invoice.

Moving abroad

Rule: PC Protect does not publish a specific relocation cancellation policy. If you cannot continue the service due to jurisdictional restrictions, contact support with evidence of your change of residence and request termination under the contractual terms.

Required proof documents: proof of new address (utility bill, residency documentation) and account invoice.

Legitimate ground accepted by PC Protect

Rule: PC Protect does not publish a detailed list of legitimate grounds for early termination beyond the statutory cooling-off and refund windows. For other legitimate reasons you must provide supporting documents and request termination through the Online Portal, phone or by post.

Required proof documents: depends on the ground; provide identity, invoice, and documentary proof specific to the reason.

Notice period for termination

Rule: Either party must give 30 days written notice of intention to terminate the contract prior to the anniversary of the contract start date, otherwise the contract will renew automatically. Send written notice by email or by post to meet this requirement.

Reference: PC Protect billing support pages and terms; cancellation help: Official cancellation page

Applicable law

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (14-day cooling-off) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply to online distance services. The CMA expects clear auto-renewal terms and easy cancellation options.

Before cancelling: negotiate

Retention options: PC Protect publishes promotional pricing for initial terms but does not publish a standard list of retention offers available on cancellation. To request a retention offer, contact support through the Online Portal or call 01202 805 000. Provide your account email, invoice number and explain you want either a discounted renewal rate or to switch plans.

Suggested script to ask for a retention offer:

1. "Hello, my account email is [your email] and my invoice number is [invoice]. I am considering cancelling at renewal. Do you have any retention offers or a lower-cost plan I can move to? I want the lowest annual cost that still provides real-time protection."
2. Ask the agent to confirm any offer in writing and the exact renewal price and length of the offer.

What cancelling saves you - concrete math

Example 1 - Monthly Premium plan: £8.25 per month gives an annual cost of 12 x £8.25 = £99.00 per year.

Example 2 - Switch to PC Security annual plan: annual price £15.22. Savings when leaving Premium for PC Security: £99.00 - £15.22 = £83.78 per year.

Example 3 - Compare to McAfee LiveSafe: McAfee annual price reported £44.99. Savings when switching from Premium: £99.00 - £44.99 = £54.01 per year.

Cheapest real alternative from competitors (based on available data): PC Security annual at £15.22. Competitor prices used: McAfee LiveSafe £44.99, F-Secure Total £59.99.

Key UK consumer laws

The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 provide a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill and protects consumers against unfair contract terms.

Reference: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

Auto-renewal and the CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions or unclear auto-renewal terms as problematic. PC Protect publishes an Online Portal route to disable auto-renewal and a written-notice requirement of 30 days prior to the anniversary date. Keep documentary proof of cancellation requests.

Escalation steps

1. Complain to PC Protect support through the Online Portal and keep written records.
2. If unresolved, get advice from Citizens Advice: Citizens Advice - cancelling a service.
3. For card payments, consider a chargeback via your card issuer or a Section 75 claim if the transaction qualifies.

When to use statutory rights

If you cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period you are entitled to a refund under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If digital content download or streaming started with your express consent, statutory refund rules differ; confirm whether PC Protect treated your purchase as immediate performance.

Access and service end

If you cancel auto-renewal in the Online Portal, service continues until the end of the paid period. If you receive a refund and termination, access will end immediately when the refund is processed.

Data and account

Export any data or settings you need before final termination. Uninstall PC Protect software from each device using normal application removal steps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Remove saved login or billing data from your browser and password manager.

Final billing and refund timing

If eligible, most refunds are processed within 24-48 hours after approval but can take up to 10 working days depending on the payment provider. Card refunds are returned to the same card. App Store or Google Play refunds are handled by the respective store.

Re-activation

To re-subscribe, sign in to your account or re-purchase via the app store. Promotional pricing does not always apply to renewals. Keep copies of previous invoices in case you need to contest a charge.

Follow this checklist to cancel with the least friction and preserve your consumer rights.

• Log in to the PC Protect Online Portal and disable auto-renewal. Screenshot confirmation.
• If you purchased via Apple or Google, cancel in the respective store and keep the confirmation email or screenshot.
• If within 14 days of purchase and you have not used the service, request a full refund citing your right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
• If requesting a refund outside the cooling-off period, gather your invoice, account email and proof of payment and contact support to confirm eligibility under PC Protect's money-back guarantee.
• If sending written notice, use recorded delivery to: PC Protect, 123 High Street, BH15 1DF Poole, United Kingdom and keep the proof of postage.
• If phone cancelling, ask for a confirmation email and an agent reference number; save the time and name of the representative.
• Uninstall the app from all devices and delete saved credentials after service ends.
• If you cannot resolve a dispute, consult Citizens Advice and consider chargeback or Section 75 options with your card issuer.