Early Increase in Renewal Rate for Annual Subscription

Question

The Microsoft email I received stated that the new annual Office 365 Family charge of $129.00 would take effect February 14, 2026. My annual renewal date is February 10th, 2026 and yet I'm being billed the increased charge of $129 before the stated increase date of February 14th. Please bill me the correct renewal charge of $99 on my renewal date of February 10th.

Answer 1

My mistake, the price increase went into effect February 14, 2025.

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Thanks for the update, now that you know the price increase actually took effect on February 14, 2025, the $129 charge on your February 10, 2026 renewal lines up with the current Microsoft 365 Family pricing. That’s why you didn’t get the old $99 rate anymore.

---

If you’d like to avoid the higher price going forward, Microsoft does offer a Microsoft 365 Family Classic plan (the older plan without the new AI-powered features) that stays at a lower annual cost. However, this option isn’t obvious in the main billing screen, you typically need to go into your Microsoft account > Services & Subscriptions https://account.microsoft.com/services > Manage > Cancel subscription, and then you should see the option to switch to Microsoft 365 Family Classic before fully canceling.

Reference: https://support.microsoft.com/office/switching-to-microsoft-365-personal-and-family-classic-plans-58342e83-38e7-4cda-b63b-88604a8fb7ef

Once you switch, Microsoft should process a refund for the price difference. Keep in mind that it can take up to 30 days for the refund to appear on your original payment method.

For more details, you can also check the “Frequently Asked Questions” section on that same page.

I hope this helps get things sorted quickly!

---

I really hope this information is helpful! Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

It appears that there may be a misunderstanding regarding the billing for your annual Office 365 Family subscription. According to the information available, the new pricing for the subscription is set to take effect on February 14, 2026. However, if you are being billed the increased charge of $129 before this date, it would be advisable to contact Microsoft support to clarify the situation and ensure that you are billed correctly at your renewal date of February 10, 2026.

For assistance, you can reach out to Microsoft 365 Support directly to address your billing concerns and ensure that your renewal charge reflects the correct amount.

---

References:

• Why am I getting billed for Microsoft 365 after I activate the benefit?

Answer 3

My mistake, the price increase went into effect February 14, 2025.