Contrary to what other sites may tell you when Googling around, yes you can cancel your Xbox Live membership renewal without calling customer support.
It's actually really tricky with non-obvious links apparently intended to confound and upset.
After messing around on the Xbox.com website, you may stumble upon the My Account pages (note: US link).
In there is a "Membership Level" section which does have an option to disable renewal.
It may be a tiny text link that says "Automatic Renewal: ON", where the word ON is the link.
You should then end up on a page that doesn't look like it's intended for cancelling your renewal at all, but if you scroll down you should find a "Next" button near the bottom.
Hit next through like 3 similar pages - all of which are trying to tell you about all the features you are missing out on by cancelling your membership - until you finally get to the part that actually lets you cancel.
I'd have a better description and some screenshots for you, but I already cancelled mine (through this process)
so I can't see the exact pages.
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/32/Mag Roader
If you log in to Xbox.com and go to your "My Account" page, there is a "Membership Level" section.
It's in there that you can control your billing by enabling or disabling your monthly renewal.
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1407/Michael Herold
I've been trying to do this for weeks
and I set myself a rule that I wouldn't call CS nor cancel my DD.
As a UK user
the "Automatic Renewal:" status isn't a link:
Automatic renewal: <span id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_AutomaticRenewalStatus">ON</span
>
It's ridiculously simple to turn it on, but turning it off the same way is deliberately impossible.
Edit: http://forums.xbox.com/9/31086471/ShowPost.aspx#31086471
(FAQ & Guide - How to turn Automatic Renewal OFF Please read )
contains the gem
"Note:
The Auto Renewal ON/OFF feature was removed from all markets except USA, Germany, Taiwan and Japan on the 18th of February 2010.
"
Wonder why..?
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2471/lotsoffreetime
Just found this gem on Reddit , for those living where online automatic renewal cancellation is disabled: First off, thanks to eltacodeldiablo for pointing me in the right direction.
A few days ago there was a deal to get 5 months of Xbox live for $5 which is all well and good except that it turned on automatic renewal for your account which is a pain to turn off.
As it turns out, Illinois passed a law that requires internet gaming service providers to have an online method to cancel the service.
So here are the steps to turn off auto renewal for Xbox live: Go to the account page Go to Billing Account Information and change the address to somewhere in Illinois Back on the account page, go to Manage Payment Options Edit the credit card's billing info to be somewhere in Chicago Back on the account page, click Upgrade/Manage Account
Under your avatar where it says Automatic Renewal: On, the On should be a link, click it.
You are going to have to click next quite a few times but eventually it will give you the option to turn auto renewal off.
Profit
It takes a few minutes, but is far less painful than calling support and having them potentially cancel your account instead of turning off auto renewal.
Edit:
This may only work in the US, since changing the country linked to an account seems to be difficult (if not impossible).
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1777/Keaanu
Update!
Following the cost increase of monthly renewal, MS sent me a nice email detailing the rise and this snippet (UK account, remember):
As always, you can cancel your membership before the renewal date by calling 0800 587 1103, although we certainly would not want you to miss out on all the great new features and games coming this November.
Useful, except that that number is the TTY device line for the hearing impaired, modem noise and all.
The voice line is actually 0800 587 1102.
Close, though.
I managed to cancel automatic renewal through this number.
Hope
this helps someone else.
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2471/lotsoffreetime
The auto renewal link mentioned by Mag is only available in the US and a few other countries.
The UK isn't included so after two unsucessful calls to CS
I sent them an email through the account section on xbox.com and complained.
I got a response asking for a contact phone number and convenient time for them to call, which they did and cancelled it immediately.
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2470/Daz Lewis
Lots of old info here, so straight from the FAQ : To turn automatic renewal off: Click Sign
In at the top of [Xbox.com] , or click My Account if you’re already signed in.
The automatic renewal setting will be displayed near the top-center of the screen.
Click Change next to Automatic Renewal .
Please edit or comment if this doesn't work in your region.
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/21177/Wolf
Is there a way to discontinue your Xbox Live automatic monthly/annual renewal (and credit card charge) over the Web/Internet?
How do I cancel Xbox LIVE automatic renewal online?
gaming.stackexchange.com
<xbox-360><xbox-live>
gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/4778
gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1777/Keaanu
Go to the "Membership Level" section on your "My Account" page. It is simple to turn but very difficult to turn off again. It is nearly impossible to do online by design, however if you navigate to the My Account page, there is a Membership Level selection.
User suggests a solution. Another uses says that it is deliberately made impossible.