I Lost $180 to Domestika’s Auto-Subscription Trap

I’m writing this post as a warning, in case it helps someone else avoid what just happened to me. I recently got caught in an auto-subscription scam on Domestika and ended up losing USD 180 (RM750) without realizing I had ever “subscribed.”

How It Happened

Like many others, I was drawn in by a cheap course promotion — a $0.99 (RM4) special from one of Domestika’s ads. What I didn’t notice during checkout was that the purchase automatically included a subscription to their “Plus” plan.

Here’s the sequence:

• I bought a cheap course, thinking it was a one-off.
• Hidden in checkout was an automatic subscription switch.
• The “free” trial ended, and suddenly I was billed for an annual subscription I never explicitly agreed to.
• When I reached out to customer support, I only got generic, automated replies with no real resolution — likely just bots.
• By the time I realized what had happened, the charge had already gone through.

Unfortunately, I’m not alone. A quick search revealed dozens of similar stories worldwide. People buy a cheap course, miss the fine print, and end up charged for an annual renewal. Domestika’s TrustPilot rating is just 1.7, which says a lot.

Why This Hurts

This wasn’t my first time using Domestika. Back in 2020, I thought the platform was decent and useful. But now, the experience feels closer to fraud than education.

To make things worse, when I contacted my bank, they couldn’t help because the charge was “CVV verified.” In other words, the payment went through as if I had approved it — even though I hadn’t knowingly subscribed.

Losing USD$180 (RM750) stings. But beyond the money, it’s the trust issue that bothers me most. A platform I once valued has turned into a bait-and-switch scheme, where hidden terms and confusing consent are used to lock people into charges they never meant to sign up for.

What I’ve Learned (and What You Can Do)

Here are a few lessons I’m taking away from this experience:

1. Always read the fine print. Even a $1 course can come with hidden auto-renewals.
2. Check reviews before buying. A quick TrustPilot or Reddit search might save you a lot of money.
3. Disable auto-renewals for every subscription you don’t actively want.
4. Use a virtual card or a separate credit card for online purchases. I like experimenting with low/no-code tools and plugins, but from now on, I’ll isolate those one-off spends.
5. Monitor your statements closely. Set up alerts for charges on your bank account, PayPal, or digital banks.
6. If you spot an unauthorized charge, act immediately. Contact your bank or provider, escalate with screenshots, and document everything.

Why I’m Sharing This

For me, USD$180 (RM750) is not a small amount. But more importantly, this type of practice feels unfair and predatory. It’s not about learning, it’s about catching people off-guard.

If you’ve had a similar experience, I’d love to hear from you. Maybe if enough of us speak up, we can push for change — or at least prevent more people from falling into the same trap.

For now, based on reviews and what I’ve seen, I doubt I’ll get my money back. But I hope this post saves someone else from going through the same.

Be careful out there.