Unauthorized money deductions by SmartyMe app on App Store

Van Dau wrote:

They got me last month and this month, each time it was double charge $50 so I already lost $100. Very angry.

I cant even login, and when I tried to send password recovery the automate email announced it is too busy!

Please be aware. This company is dishonest, scam and should be brought to judge!

• Start by disputing the charge with the bank of the card that was charged.
• If you are in the US, you can report them as a scam here, otherwise it would be your local consumer protection agancy: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Same here, and when I called apple, they verified that I hadn’t downloaded the app. After a lot of drama, I ended up changing my card number, which the rep said would prevent them from charging me again.

CmaDR wrote:

Same here, and when I called apple, they verified that I hadn’t downloaded the app. After a lot of drama, I ended up changing my card number, which the rep said would prevent them from charging me again.

It has nothing to do with the app in the App Store. You made a purchase online and there was an option to save some money by trying the free trial subscription to SmartyCash. The purchase you made could have been a month ago where you have now just saw the subscription charge after the trial ended. These offers appear on well known websites such as eBay, Nike, Amazon and even if you pay your AT&T bill online. The subscription with Smarty is made directly with them and does not involve Apple at all.

I assume you contacted the bank of the card being charged, but you need to know that simply changing your card number does not prevent subscription charges from appearing on the new card. Your bank must specifically block that charge. The PNO (Payment Network Operator), such as VISA or Mastercard, use a Credit Card Updater service that automatically transfers subscriptions over to any new card. Your bank is also well aware as they participate in the update process to notify the PNO.

MarciJohan wrote:

I signed up today and paid but the download part was gone. They push so many other upsale stuff and the one that I chose Smartyme Arts was not there and hey! Paid and not even downloaded the app.

I tried to call their number and nobody gets calls. I sent an email. I need a help from Apple Store to cancel this charge and also connected my bank to know the situation happening.

If I understand correctly, you signed up for a subscription with the Developer directly and did not use an in-app Purchase that is managed by Apple, then Apple has nothing to do with that subscription and you will need to cancel directly with the developer. If they are not responsive, you will need to dispute the charge with your bank. Here if what they say about cancelling the subscription, either on their website or be sending an email.

https://smartyme.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/27102279613329-How-do-I-cancel-the-subscription

The only subscriptions that Apple can cancel are those made with an in-app purchase while using the app downloaded from the App Store where the charge will come from Apple. Many companies manage their own subscriptions on their website bypassing Apple's ability to cancel them. Some of those companies are Netflix, Amazon, Walmart, Hulu, and many more that also have a presence on the internet to sign up with them directly.

fecalameu wrote:

I have just been charged for something I have not signed up for. How to stop it?

• Are you referring to the SmartyMe charge like the poster?
• Is this a charge that you see in your Purchase History, which would mean it was managed by Apple?

View your purchase history for the App Store and other Apple media services - Apple Support

• Subscriptions that are managed by Apple are cancelled here:

View or cancel app subscriptions on iPhone - Apple Support

If not in your Purchase History, then it did not come from Apple and you will need to contact the merchant that charged you and if unsuccessful, dispute the charge with the card that was charged.

Another good resource offered by a User Tip is here:

Billed, but you didn’t buy? - Apple Community

Thats because they stole our information. I am currently experiencing the same, locked account pending new card. I never created an account or entered my card info but they charged my account several times!

kenardo128 wrote:

Same here and it's insane that apple has done ntn about it considering all the complaints. The crazy thing is that they charged an account not registered on apple which means they stole my information. Any charge from any app, even YouTube comes up as apple.com on my account but not this one.

That is because it has nothing to do with Apple. Since you just think it is Apple's fault, you have failed to realize what actually happened. They did not get your bank account information from Apple.

What happened was that you made an online purchase from somewhere and there was an offer on the screen that said you could save an additional $10, or whatever it was for you, and you clicked it. Smarty advertises this promo on well known sites such as eBay, Nike, and even on the AT&T site when you are paying your monthly bill. The savings is just a free trial for their service, where you will be billed after the free trial if you do not cancel before that. Users typically don't even know they signed up for a free trial and fail to cancel before they see their charge. It was that site where they were able to get your account information.

That is why it is not billed to your Apple Account like your other charges and has nothing to do with Apple. The actual website where you made the purchase was likely 30 days before you saw the charge on your credit card when the free trial started, so you should be able to figure out what site that was. It was not an Apple website, and Apple certainly did not give them your account number. You think you are entering your payment information on the website for your purchase, but you are actually giving it to Smarty. It is spelled out on the website, but is in fine print and overlooked by you. It is not just you, many others have been fooled as well.

Now that you know what happened, resolving the issue is the same. First you go to the merchant that is billing you and if you cannot get it resolved, then you have to dispute the charge with the credit card being billed. Here is the link to contact Smarty:

https://smartyme.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/27102279613329-How-do-I-cancel-the-subscription

After you figure out the website that allowed Smarty to trick you into a free trial, let us know what website that is to get the word out. The website gets money from Smarty for advertising, but maybe if people start calling out the website, they will think twice about partnering with Smarty.

aquarius13 wrote:

App Store has included an app that is charging unauthorized access to customers’ accounts. There is no way to contact them by phone. Their email address doesn’t help get any answers.

please help. This is happening to many people.

For the many people that are experiencing a SmartyMe charge, it has nothing to do with the app and the charge is occurring on their Credit Card, not their Apple Account. This is due to inadvertently signing up for a Free Trial of SmartyMe on a website where there was a discount offered for a purchase that was made. If the charge is due to the app from an in-app purchase, then cancelling done the same way as any other Apple managed subscription.

View or cancel app subscriptions on iPhone - Apple Support

For those seeing the charge on their Credit Card, then the solution is the same for any other charge you may see on the card, contact the merchant and if unable to resolve the problem, then dispute the charge with your Credit Card.

Please note that by choosing "unsubscribe" you will only be able to opt-out from receiving further emails, while for cancelling the existing subscription to smartymeapp.comyou should contact our support via support@smartymeapp.com

STELLARTECH LIMITED, 13 Karaiskakis Street, CY3032 Limassol, Cyprus

Hello~ Are you affiliated with SmartyMe?

~Katana-San~

It happened to me too: I don't recognize the app, unauthorized transactions on my card, no replies to email contact. These are crooks. I don't even know what this is for, not on my subscription list!! Crooks, 40 usd here, 40 there, they get rich in one day!!!

Smartme is a scam company!!!! My credit card was charged 4 times. I cancelled my subscription because the content is deceptive and useless. False advertising. Not sure why my card got charged four times. Farudsters! Won't recommend and will post this on social media for everyone to see. Good Luck with your business model

Thank you for your message, but I would like to clarify a few important facts:

I have never created an account or downloaded the SmartyApp application. I did not log in, register, or knowingly confirm any subscription with them at any point.

I did not make any purchases through a website that partners with SmartyApp, nor did I choose any option offering a discount in exchange for starting a free trial. I have thoroughly reviewed my transaction and browsing history, and there is nothing that links me to their service or justifies these charges.

I was charged twice, totaling approximately 50 euros, without my knowledge or consent. This is not a case of forgetting to cancel a free trial — I never knowingly signed up for anything, and no terms were ever presented to me in a transparent way.

This seems to be a clear example of a deceptive billing practice, also known as a “dark pattern,” where a user is tricked into subscribing or charged without informed consent. Such practices are considered illegal under EU consumer protection law.

Please understand this is not about making assumptions — I am speaking strictly from my personal experience and the facts: I had no interaction with this service, no agreement, no registration, and no understanding that I was being subscribed to anything. The charges came as a complete surprise.

If you have any evidence to the contrary, I’m open to reviewing it — but without clear proof of consent, this situation remains deeply problematic and unfair.

And to be clear, you are not being billed by Apple? You have already confirmed that you do not have the app or created an account with them and that has all been true for others as well. The Smarty website even confirms you do not need to create an account or use an app. Those that did find this charge on their card made a purchase on a website, and did not know they were agreeing to the Smarty subscription. It is absolutely deceptive and finding the source where you were tricked is going to be the key.

The most common websites where I have seen that resulted in a Smarty subscription was eBay and one called Fanatics, but there are many others. You are in the best position to determine what site that could have been for you. You also have the ability to file a complaint with your Consumer Protection agencies in the EU. Here in the US, we have the FTC.

I signed up today and paid but the download part was gone. They push so many other upsale stuff and the one that I chose Smartyme Arts was not there and hey! Paid and not even downloaded the app.

I tried to call their number and nobody gets calls. I sent an email. I need a help from Apple Store to cancel this charge and also connected my bank to know the situation happening.