FAQ

ScribeUp is a free tool that helps people manage, control and save money on their subscriptions. Here’s how we help you do that:

We are the first service to provide users with proactive subscription management, and thus peace of mind. We proactively ensure our users are never charged for a service they don’t want, rather than retroactively informing users when they’ve already been charged with an unwanted bill. Our payment logic affords users the freedom to try new services without the fear of unwanted bills, giving you complete control with none of the hassle.

Our goal is to empower users to freely interact with the powerful services that offer efficiency, health and joy to our modern lives. Our vision is to be the gateway that dynamically and flexibly controls these powerful services for our users, breaking free from today’s burden of discretely managing each of your 20+ individual monthly subscription bills. We take care of the financial stress, you focus on enjoying the services that add value to your day-to-day. Let’s all make unwanted bills, long customer service calls and subscription fatigue a thing of the past.

Yes, ScribeUp is completely free to use. There are no fees or hidden charges. You only pay for subscriptions you add to your ScribeUp Card, and you can unsubscribe from any active subscription with a single click. If you use ScribeUp for a free trial, we'll automatically block any charges once it ends. Even more - you’ll be able to save on your monthly subscription bills with ScribeUp Rewards.

We make our money on interchange fees - if a user connects a subscription to their ScribeUp Card and pays for it each month, we get a small percentage of the revenue from the merchant. This does not increase your subscription price or add any more cost for you. It comes completely out of the merchant’s end.

We don't sell any of your personal data, and we are completely free to use. ScribeUp charges no hidden fees for our service or card.

Today, ScribeUp is only available to users who are over 18 years of age and located in the United States. We certainly hope to expand internationally into the future!

A virtual payment card is a digital-only payment form. ScribeUp’s virtual cards is purposed only for intended use on subscription services. Virtual cards add a layer of protection between your funding source and the merchant. Virtual cards have their own unique card number, expiration date, and CVC -- keeping your personal credit card protected from fraud. Secured by encryption, virtual payments offer a safe and convenient way to pay online.

ScribeUp is not a bank. ScribeUp is a financial technology company that offers a virtual card backed by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. The ScribeUp Card is issued by Marqeta.

A Risk-Free Trial is a free trial to an online subscription using ScribeUp. Here’s how it works:

No more unwanted trial bills. No more merchants charging you when you don’t expect it. It is truly risk-free.

Nope! The ScribeUp Card does not affect your credit score and there is no credit check needed to access a card. Enjoy savings and control with none of the risk.

Common pitfalls of free trial subscriptions include automatic conversion to paid subscriptions, difficult cancellation processes, hidden fees, and the requirement of credit card details upfront. Users often forget to cancel before the trial ends, leading to unexpected charges. Limited trial features can also give a misleading impression of the service.

To avoid accidental subscription sign-ups, always read terms before agreeing, uncheck pre-selected opt-in boxes, be cautious with free trials, use virtual credit cards with set limits, and regularly check bank statements for unrecognized charges. Awareness and vigilance are key to preventing unintended commitments.

Yes, there are tools designed to help identify hidden subscriptions. These include budgeting apps and financial software that analyze your bank and credit card statements to flag recurring payments. They alert you to continuous charges, helping to uncover subscriptions you may have forgotten or are not actively using.

To remember to cancel a subscription before renewal, set calendar reminders a few days before the billing date or trial period ends. Alternatively, use subscription management apps that automatically alert you prior to renewal dates. Regularly reviewing your subscription list can also help keep track of upcoming renewals.

Yes, there are apps that notify you before subscription renewal. These apps track your subscriptions, monitor billing cycles, and send reminders before each renewal date. They help manage and organize your subscriptions effectively, allowing you to decide whether to continue, cancel, or modify them before being automatically charged.

To block unwanted subscriptions, regularly review and cancel those you don't need. Use bank or credit card services that alert you to recurring charges, or utilize apps that track subscriptions and provide cancellation options. For preventing future subscriptions, opt-out of auto-renewals and be cautious with free trials requiring payment information.

A Chrome extension is a software add-on to the Google Chrome web browser. Extensions offer users advanced features built on top of their basic browsing experience. Once installed, an extension will appear as a small icon in the browser toolbar, and clicking it will activate the extension's features. Extensions can also be disabled through the Chrome browser's settings menu and removed at any time. To install the ScribeUp Chrome Extension, visit the Chrome Store and click “Install”. Once you've signed up for ScribeUp, the extension will automatically notify you when you can access savings, Risk-Free Trials, or add a subscription to ScribeUp. Simply follow the extension prompt, and see how easy it makes your life!”

By creating a ScribeUp account, you are eligible to become an authorized user of ScribeUp's virtual card system. To activate a card, you need to connect a bank account to ScribeUp. It’s as easy as that.

From there, you’ll have access to use this card at checkout for thousands of subscription services. Use the card to sign up for Risk-Free Trials, or add subscriptions to it to track your spending and control them with one click from your ScribeUp dashboard. The ScribeUp Card is completely free to use and requires neither a credit check nor has any impact on your credit score.

The ScribeUp Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Valid only in U.S. For customer service, call (213) 973-2802.

We'd love to hear your questions, feedback or anything else on your mind! Shoot us an email to support@scribeup.io or contact us via the Intercom chatbot displayed at the bottom right of the ScribeUp App.

ScribeUp is a free service, and we don’t charge users to access a ScribeUp Card or use the subscription scanning tool. Our users only pay for subscriptions they connect to their ScribeUp Card. No hidden fees or additional bills.

We currently offer a referral bonus every time you refer someone new to ScribeUp. For each friend you invite, your friend will get $5 in ScribeUp Rewards for signing up. Once your friend adds subscriptions, you’ll get $5 in rewards too! You can invite friends by clicking the “Give $5, Get $5” in the ScribeUp dashboard.

We are always looking for ways to improve our service. If you are willing to share some feedback, simply click the chatbot at the bottom of your screen or send us an email at info@scribeup.io with your thoughts.

To educate yourself on smart subscription practices, research and understand the terms and conditions, including cancellation policies and billing cycles. Regularly review your subscriptions and usage. Stay informed about common traps like auto-renewals. Use reminders to evaluate continuing the service before trial periods end, and monitor your bank statements for unexpected charges.

To cancel most online subscriptions, log into your account, navigate to settings or account management, find the subscription or billing section, and select the option to cancel your subscription. Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation. Afterwards, check for a confirmation email to ensure the process is complete.

To keep track of all active subscriptions, create a dedicated spreadsheet or document listing each subscription, its cost, billing cycle, and renewal date. Alternatively, use subscription management apps or software that automatically track and organize your subscriptions, sending reminders before renewals and helping you review and manage expenses regularly.

Financial safety and data security are of the utmost importance to ScribeUp, which is why we partner with leading financial integration and payment providers such as Plaid and Marqueta to keep your data safe. In using Plaid, the world's largest payment gateway with internationally-recognized security standards and bank-level security to safely connect your financial accounts, we also do not have access to financial information that you enter into Plaid. You can learn more about their safety practices here: https://plaid.com/safety.

We also intentionally ask the bare minimum of data from you to be able to use ScribeUp’s benefits, and do not sell or share personal data.

Lastly, our card payment technology ensures that you are never charged for services that you don’t want. We’ll automatically block any charges when the Risk-Free Trial ends unless you choose to keep the service.

In order to use the ScribeUp Card, our card issuer partner Marqeta requires some basic information. We only ask you for the minimum amount of information required to access the ScribeUp Card. We don't ask for SSN, ITIN, driver's license, credit checks or any other more advanced forms of identity confirmation.

You do not need to link a bank account to see what subscriptions you are paying for. However, to access one-click subscription control and Risk-Free Trials with ScribeUp, we require a bank account on file to. This is required to prevent fraud. If you pair your bank account, you will not have to remember your subscriptions -- our algorithm will block any payments other than the ones you expressly select to ‘keep’

Yes, subscription managers can help prevent unwanted charges. They track subscription services and their renewal dates, sending reminders before charges occur. This allows users to review and cancel subscriptions they no longer need or use, avoiding automatic renewals and ensuring only desired services are billed.

Financial mindfulness prevents unwanted subscriptions by promoting regular review and evaluation of expenses. Being aware of ongoing subscriptions and their utility, setting reminders for trial expiry dates, and consciously deciding whether each service aligns with personal or financial goals helps in avoiding unnecessary or forgotten subscriptions, thus controlling spending.

To avoid subscriptions with no easy exit, research the cancellation policy before signing up. Read reviews and user experiences regarding the ease of cancellation. Be wary of free trials that require credit card details, and set reminders to review the subscription before the trial period ends to avoid automatic renewals.