Somehow Microsoft has been making subscription transactions against a card that expired and I replaced in July. I can’t find a specific place in the “help with this transaction” that satisfies this scenario.
I didn’t update the payment information on Microsoft because I thought it was an easy way of unsubscribing, but they’ve successfully made charges to my account for three months on an expired card.
How have they done this?
You’ve given them CPA, they are using that.
Speak to them and cancel whatever it is. Running from it won’t fix it.
What’s CPA? Google comes up with Certified Public Accountant, which doesn’t sound like it’s what you’re referring to.
Whoops. Mastercard facilitates a payment update service to keep subscriptions running - when your card updates retailers are given the new details if they have a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA).
You should cancel through Microsoft.
https://developer.mastercard.com/product/automatic-billing-updater-abu/
Banks have an obligation to cancel them under PSD2 regs. They can’t make you ask the merchant unless you’re disputing it.
This is the real issue. You can’t unsubscribe by hiding, only by cancelling your subscription.
Fixed that for you for the open audience.
What’s stopping you from googling PSD2? It’s not even a UK thing but an EU regulation
Because people want a simple answer, not a trip around the web wondering wtf that means, and still no answer.
Exactly why CPA should be banned. At least with a Standing Order or Direct Debit you have the ability to cancel it, you can’t even see CPA’s you have set up.
As has been said they need to cancel directly via Microsoft.
What I do when these clowns ask for a valid card number I have a burner account with just £1 in it and use the card on that, then if they come back for more they are sadly let down.
The only clown in these circumstances is the individual who refuses to manage their subscription properly.
As has been covered previously some of these ‘clowns’ have been refusing to cancel CPA when requested Continuous payment authorities: it is your right to cancel | FCA
The assumption that all business operate fairly and in accordance with both laws and regulation is not one I subscribe to, so yes I am a clown
If a payment is taken following a request for cancellation is processed in line with the bank/merchants terms; it then becomes possible to dispute in form of chargeback via your bank.
I agree that they should be more visible and easily cancellable on the banking end, like a direct debit is.
Bear in mind though that if you don’t cancel the subscription merchant end, you technically owe the money even if you cancel a direct debit or a CPA. If you do cancel it and they charge you anyway you can get a refund or failing that charge it back. So ultimately are always better off sorting it out with the merchant rather than just stopping paying them (although I fully admit to being guilty of the latter on multiple occasions 
)
100% agree, I moved my Monzo account and then deleted a few DD I thought were old, turns out one was for a mobile account and I ended up 1 month overdue, although it was a closed account. Big blotch on my credit file.