A charge labeled “WPC digital subscription” on your bank or credit card statement is almost always a recurring payment to The Washington Post. The Post’s billing descriptor shows up in abbreviated forms that don’t obviously name the paper, and because its digital subscriptions auto-renew by default, the charge often appears long after signup or at a much higher amount than the introductory rate. To confirm it, sign in to the “My Post” account page at washingtonpost.com and look for an active subscription; if one is there, you can cancel it from the same page and then decide whether to pursue a refund.
Confirm the Charge Is Yours
Log in to washingtonpost.com with the email address tied to the card being charged and open the “My Post” profile page. An active subscription will list its plan, renewal date, and the card on file. If nothing shows up there, the subscription may have been purchased through a third-party platform (Apple App Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Google News), in which case the charge actually routes through that platform’s billing even though the service is the Post.
If you still can’t match the charge, call the number on the back of your card and ask the issuer for the merchant’s registered name, phone number, and city. That identifies the biller precisely and tells you where to cancel.
How to Cancel and Stop Future Charges
If you signed up directly through the Washington Post, cancel from the “My Post” profile page at washingtonpost.com. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Google News, you have to cancel through that platform’s subscription settings; canceling on the Post’s site won’t stop a charge that originates with Apple or Google.1The Washington Post. How to Cancel Your Digital-Only Subscription
Once a cancellation goes through, recurring charges stop at the next billing cycle. You keep access through the end of the period you’ve already paid for, and then the account reverts to the limited free-article allowance for non-subscribers.1The Washington Post. How to Cancel Your Digital-Only Subscription Free trials and promotional-rate signups convert to full paid subscriptions automatically unless you cancel before the trial ends.2The Washington Post. Terms of Sale for Digital Products
Getting a Refund
The Post’s Terms of Sale state that subscription fees are nonrefundable except where required by law or granted at the company’s discretion, and canceling mid-cycle does not trigger a refund for the current cycle. Subscribers in the European Union and the United Kingdom have a 14-day withdrawal right from the start of a new subscription, and residents of Québec may receive prorated refunds minus a cancellation fee of up to 10 percent, capped at $50.2The Washington Post. Terms of Sale for Digital Products
To ask the Post directly, use the contact page at washingtonpost.com/contactus, email help@washpost.com, or call 202-334-6100.2The Washington Post. Terms of Sale for Digital Products The Post has issued partial or one-time refunds in response to complaints, but its standard position is that renewals stand.3Better Business Bureau. The Washington Post Complaints
If the Post refuses and you believe you were charged without proper authorization, the Federal Trade Commission advises filing a dispute (a “chargeback”) with your card issuer, usually through the card’s online portal or by calling the number on the back of the card. The FTC recommends sending a written follow-up to the issuer and, if the charge was truly unauthorized, reporting it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.4Federal Trade Commission. How to Stop Subscriptions You Never Ordered
Why the Charge May Have Jumped
Introductory annual rates reset to full price at renewal. The annual Core plan starts at $29 for the first year and renews at $90; the annual Premium plan goes from $39 to $120 on renewal. The Post reserves the right to change prices at any time, saying it will notify subscribers in advance and give them a chance to cancel.5The Washington Post. Subscribe to The Washington Post6The Washington Post. Terms of Service
Beyond the standard rate reset, the Post is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit filed on June 11, 2026, in D.C. Superior Court that accuses it of “surveillance pricing”: using an algorithm fed by subscribers’ personal data to charge different people different amounts for the same product.7Courthouse News Service. Washington Post Hit With Class Action Over Surveillance Pricing Scheme The lead plaintiff says her annual cost rose from $42.40 in 2024 to $127.20 in 2025 and then to $148.40, while other subscribers reported paying as little as $60 for comparable access.8Gizmodo. Washington Post Sued Over Alleged Surveillance Pricing After Subscription Prices Jump Dramatically Starting in March 2026, renewal emails from the Post began carrying a notice: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.” The Post had not publicly responded to the complaint as of mid-2026, and no rulings have been issued. If your renewal price seems unusually high compared to published rates, that language on the renewal notice is worth checking before you negotiate or dispute.
Your Rights on Auto-Renewing Subscriptions
Washington, D.C., where the Post is headquartered, requires clear disclosure of auto-renewal terms and cancellation procedures. For contracts with initial terms of 12 months or longer, the seller must send a renewal notice 30 to 60 days before the cancellation deadline. For free trials longer than one month, the seller must notify you 15 to 30 days before the trial ends and get affirmative consent before charging. A violation voids the renewal provision.9D.C. Law Library. D.C. Code § 28A-203
California’s AB 2863, effective July 1, 2025, requires businesses to let you cancel through the same medium you used to sign up, send annual renewal reminders, and disclose the amount you’ll be charged before billing.10California Legislature. AB 286311Virginia Code Commission. Title 59.1, Chapter 17.8 – Automatic Renewal and Continuous Service12FTC. Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Click-to-Cancel Rule13Jones Day. FTC Revives Click-to-Cancel Rule
If the Post didn’t send the required renewal notice before billing you, that failure can give you leverage both in asking the Post for a refund and in disputing the charge with your card issuer.
If It Isn’t the Washington Post
A few other merchants also use “WPC” on card statements. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, uses the abbreviation for monthly donations and membership dues.14Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. FAQs About Giving Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, historically goes by WPC and bills tuition and fees to cards.15Warner Pacific University. Student Accounts Packet If neither you nor anyone on your account has a Washington Post login, ask your card issuer for the merchant’s full registered name and contact information before disputing, so you reach the right company.