Pdfe.com Subscription Trap Cost Me $243 Without Warning
On January 2, 2026, I noticed a charge of $81 on my VakıfBank Platinum Plus Metal credit card under the name pdfe.com. When I called customer service, I was informed that the same $81 charge had also been made in November and December, and that in October there were two smaller charges of $1 each. I discovered these transactions purely by coincidence while reviewing my credit card activity.
I did not visit the pdfe.com website on those dates, I did not convert any files or perform any similar action, and I did not start any subscription. Approximately three months ago, on October 26, 2025, I clicked on a tab that appeared while I was trying to merge just a few PDF pages, and the price shown was $1, presented as a one-time fee. I paid only that amount. I did not request or approve any subscription, nor was I even aware of one being created. I did not knowingly use pdfe.com at all.
The only email I received regarding this payment was related to that single transaction, and it was written in a foreign language. There was no information stating that a subscription had been started, that a trial would later convert into a paid plan, or that $81 would be charged in the future. As far as I recall, I may have been trying to use the free version of another application, possibly WPS Office. There was no indication there of any subscription, let alone a monthly charge of $81, and I received no follow-up notification whatsoever.
From that day until now, I have not accessed the mentioned website even once. Even if I accidentally used it a single time, charging an excessive amount like $81 for three consecutive months is completely unreasonable.
In addition, I request that pdfe.com investigate this unauthorized and unjustified billing, explain how my card information was used, and issue a full refund of all three $81 charges. I demand that these transactions, which were made without my knowledge or consent, be canceled and that any so-called subscriptions associated with my account be terminated immediately.
