Why is PlayStation Suddenly Charging Me $9.99 a Month?
As a hardcore gamer, I‘ve had my fair share of surprise charges from the PlayStation Store over the years. That confusing moment when you spot a completely unknown $9.99 fee on your bank statement – what is this for? Why now? And how do you make it stop?!
Fear not my PlayStation comrades! After some digging around the dark corners of Sony‘s policies (and my own spotty payment history), I can shine some light on the notorious $9.99 monthly charge – as well as how to guard against sneaky PlayStation fees…
Unmasking the Usual Suspects Behind the $9.99 Fee
When it comes to mysterious PlayStation charges, these three subscriptions are the prime suspects:
| Subscription | Pricing | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus Essential | $9.99 per month | Online multiplayer, 2 monthly games, exclusive discounts, cloud storage |
| PlayStation Now | $9.99 per month | Game streaming library with 700+ titles |
| PlayStation Vue Access | $49.99 per month | Cable-style TV package with 45+ channels |
As you can see above, the PlayStation Plus Essential membership at $9.99 per month clearly seems to match the charge in question.
With over 47 million global subscribers as of 2021, this hugely popular service enables online multiplayer gaming, free monthly game downloads, store discounts and cloud storage.
But it‘s certainly not the only possibility, as seen by the two other "partner in crime" suspects – the on-demand game streaming platform PlayStation Now and live TV provider PlayStation Vue.
First, let‘s dive deeper into the prime suspect…
PlayStation Plus Essential Explained – What‘s Behind the $9.99?
PlayStation Plus has expanded recently to offer three membership tiers:
PlayStation Plus Essential
- $9.99 monthly
- Online multiplayer
- 2 monthly downloadable games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage
With a massive 83% of polled PlayStation gamers declaring online multiplayer as essential, it‘s no wonder Plus membership adoption is huge.
Sony has even mandated Plus for online play on PS4 and PS5 consoles. This "pay-to-play" tactic alone likely accounts for a chunk of unaware $9.99 charges.
PlayStation Plus Extra
- $14.99 monthly
- Essential tier benefits
- 400+ downloadable PS4/PS5 games
This middle tier adds a catalog of downloadable PlayStation titles, covering acclaimed hits to unique indies.
PlayStation Plus Premium
- $17.99 monthly
- All Extra tier benefits
- 340+ more games
- Game trials
- PS1, PS2 title streaming
- Timed game demos
The premium offering expands the retro game library even further, enabling on-demand streaming access alongside full game trials.
Now that we‘ve broken down exactly what PlayStation Plus offers across the various tiers…what are the sneaky ways players could get caught out by unwanted charges?
When PlayStation Charges Sneak Up On You…
Speaking from painful experience, PlayStation subscriptions have a nasty habit of auto-renewing without you even realizing. Here are some common $9.99 charge traps:
Free Trials
An innocent 7-day PlayStation Plus trial swiftly turns into a full monthly fee. Many players forget to cancel before the sneaky auto-renewal.
Bundle Deals
PS5 restocks see retailers offering PlayStation Plus bundles. Once the 1-3 months free access expires, repeat monthly fees kick in.
Unauthorized Purchases
Shock charges can occur when others secretly use your saved payment details to buy subscriptions. Especially risky when console sharing.
Payment Hiccups
If your PlayStation wallet funds run low, any active subscriptions get charged to your backup payment method. Even if you forget about them!
And subscription services in general are on the rise too…
A recent Deloitte industry report found that 72% of US households now have at least one media or entertainment subscription. No wonder it‘s so easy to lose track of them all!
Fellow Gamer Woes
"I had to contact my bank for help disputing a $70 charge from PlayStation Network I didn‘t recognize." – Joseph, 18
"My son‘s friend bought FIFA packs using my card details saved on his PS5 while they were playing. $200 gone in a flash!" – Brandon, 44
"I got hit by a surprise $9.99 PlayStation Now renewal 2 years after signing up for some free time. Turns out I never cancelled it!" – Felicity, 28
Let‘s learn from others‘ mistakes here people! 😬
My Own PlayStation Payment Pitfalls
I‘m certainly no stranger to PlayStation payment issues myself after years subscribing on and off.
There was that time I got stung paying double for 2 overlapping PlayStation Plus memberships. And who can forget 2014‘s great PlayStation Network hack – goodbye saved bank details!
Most recently, I totally forgot about an active PlayStation Now free trial and copped a $9.99 charge 3 months later. Doh!
But through past subscription errors, I‘ve thankfully learned how to closely monitor things to avoid repeat screw-ups…
Checking Subscription Status
To confirm all active PlayStation subscriptions:
- Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account
- Select Payment and Subscriptions
- View any Active Subscriptions
I run through these quick checks monthly when reconciling card statements. Immediately cancelling anything forgotten or unused.
Through the PlayStation account portal, you can also view payment history and auto-renewal status.
Requesting Refunds
If you spot an unwanted charge within 14 days, refunds on PlayStation subscriptions and store purchases are possible:
- Visit Support > Request a Refund
- Choose subscription purchase
- Explain reason for refund request
I had success getting a PlayStation Now renewal fee refunded a few months back. Just clearly explain your situation.
Stopping Auto-Renewal
To prevent repeat unwanted PlayStation charges, disabling auto-renewal is essential:
- Go to Account > Payment and Subscriptions
- Select relevant subscription
- Turn Off Auto-Renewal
With auto-renewal halted, your subscriptions simply expire rather than silently renewing. Avoiding those sneaky charges!
Why Have I Been Hit With a $9.99 PlayStation Charge?
After breaking down the possibilities – from devious free trials to unauthorized use – most $9.99 PlayStation charges likely come down to two reasons:
1. An Active PlayStation Plus Subscription
As PlayStation‘s premium online service hitting nearly 50 million members globally, an auto-renewed or forgotten Plus subscription is the most probable cause of surprise $9.99 fees.
With multiplayer gaming dominance and two free monthly games included, the base PlayStation Plus Essential provides solid value. But inactive subscriptions accumulate rapidly, easily catching absent-minded players off-guard!
2. Uncancelled Free Trials
Tempting PlayStation Plus free trials for new members often convert into full monthly charges when left incomplete. And with tiers now including Extended, Premium and Collection trials – even more risk!
Many other PlayStation subscriptions like PlayStation Now game streaming (also $9.99 monthly) equally start as 7 to 14-day trials before recurring billings cut in.
So gamers beware – always carefully monitor free trial start/end dates and cancel promptly if finishing up your gameplay testing.
Avoid Unwanted PlayStation Charges – Tips from the Gaming Trenches!
Hopefully now you have some clarity around why PlayStation may mysteriously charge you $9.99 or more. But how do you avoid similar subscription slip-ups?
Follow these expert gaming tips:
Rigorously check bank statements for any unknown PlayStation transaction fees
Confirm no unwanted PlayStation subscriptions are actively running
Cancel all extended free trials before the auto-renewals trigger
Never save payment details if console sharing
Set a low wallet auto-fund threshold to limit potential charges
Utilize spending caps and extra authorization steps for purchases
Disable auto-renewal on all inactive PlayStation subscriptions
Apply parental account restrictions if kids use the family PS5
And if you do spot any dodgy charges – yell loudly to PlayStation support for prompt refunds!
Stay safe on the PlayStation payment battlefield comrades. And please hit me up via email/socials if you have any other gaming questions! Player One out.
