Academia.edu Charged Me $61 for an Annual Premium Subscription

I started a short-term, low-cost Premium membership through Academia.edu. After the trial period ended, I was charged approximately $61 for an annual membership on September 26, 2026, without receiving any prior notification or providing approval for this renewal. I did not receive any reminder email before the renewal, and I did not agree to pay this amount. The charge was made to my TEB Bank credit card under the name “academia.”

After the charge was made, I did not use any of Academia.edu’s Premium features. Despite this, I consider it an unethical and misleading practice to charge users such a significant amount after a short trial period without properly notifying them. It is especially concerning that an organization presenting itself as an educational and scientific platform would treat students and researchers in this manner.

I contacted Academia.edu by email, had the automatic renewal canceled, and requested a refund, but my issue has not yet been resolved. My ticket ID is 1041039. I request a full refund of the approximately $61 that was charged and the complete cancellation of my membership. If the refund is not issued, I will dispute the charge with my bank and pursue all available legal remedies, including filing a complaint with the Consumer Arbitration Committee in Türkiye. I believe Academia.edu is fully responsible for the loss and inconvenience I have experienced, and I expect this matter to be resolved promptly.