How to change subscription plan to Microsoft 365 Classic to opt out of AI and avoid the price increase (in New Zealand)

Anonymous
2025-01-08T20:30:38+00:00

Today, 9th January 2025, I received notification that my Microsoft 365 subscription is to increase from NZ$179 to NZ$229 a year, a 28% increase.  The previous price increase was only notified on 13th March 2024.  I understand that the new increase is to fund the new AI features.  For me, the AI features are counterproductive.  I don't want them.

I've read that I can opt out of the price increase and the AI features by changing my subscription plan to Microsoft 365 Classic.  I would like to do that, please.  These articles explain how:

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/you-don-t-have-to-pay-the-microsoft-365-price-increase

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/why-has-there-been-a-50-increasing-the-price-of/682421da-01f1-401a-9806-5e868069476a

I've followed the instructions.  But when I get to the 'Cancel Microsoft 365 Family' page https://account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365/cancel?fref=billing-cancel, I don't see the 'Choose a plan that's right for you' section with the option to change my subscription plan to Microsoft 365 Classic.  Please advise.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | Other

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Anonymous
2025-01-22T08:47:55+00:00

This is from the UK, but hopefully will be helpful for those elsewhere

"Downgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family Classic

Go to Services & subscriptions. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your subscription, if prompted.

  1. Find your current subscription and select Manage > Cancel subscription
  2. To downgrade to another plan with fewer features, select Microsoft 365 Personal Classic or Microsoft 365 Family Classic, or another plan that works for you.
  3. Follow the instructions to complete the switch.

Your existing subscription might not change immediately, but it will automatically switch to the new plan at renewal. You will not be charged for the new plan until it renews."

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

For me standard Microsoft 365 Family (with AI) is cheaper from Amazon & a number of other known name retailers than Family Classic is from Microsoft (the only place you can buy it)

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-15T08:09:42+00:00

    I have the Family plan but with a 30% discount through Microsoft's workplace scheme (so NZD125 will go up to NZD160 on renewal). Interestingly if I follow Consumer's cancel instructions or alternatively select "Turn off recurring billing" I do get the option to switch to Microsoft Family Classic, but Microsoft don't give the workplace discount on "classic" so cost is NZD179 - more than the Family (with AI).

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-14T22:51:49+00:00

    Steps to disable auto payment

    Go to the Microsoft 365 web page https://www.microsoft.com/en-nz/microsoft-365. (If you are not in New Zealand, substitute your language-country code for 'en-nz' in the URL.)

    Log in to your Microsoft account if you are not already logged in.

    Click on your account name or icon (top left on the Microsoft 365 web page). A drop-down menu should be shown.

    On the drop-down menu, click the 'My Microsoft Account' link. After a few seconds, the Account page should be shown.

    On the Account page, under the Subscriptions header, you should see 'Microsoft 365 Family' or 'Microsoft 365 Personal'.

    The rest of these instructions may not be exactly what you will see, as I've already turned off recurrent billing and can no longer see this.

    Click on the link immediately below 'Microsoft 365 Family' or 'Microsoft 365 Personal' that says something like 'Turn off recurrent billing' or perhaps 'Manage account'. You should now be on a page where you can actually turn off recurrent billing.

    Ignore the button with the scary caption warning you that you will lose your benefits. You will not lose your benefits unless you don't make arrangements to pay (having changed to a Classic subscription) when Microsoft emails you that payment is due.

    Instead, click the button to the right of that one. I think that button also has a rather misleading caption, something like 'Go ahead and cancel'. You will not be cancelling your subscription, just turning off recurring billing.

    To check that it worked, you can then head back to the Account page. The link below 'Microsoft 365 Family' or 'Microsoft 365 Personal' should now read 'Turn on recurring billing'. And Microsoft should shortly email you a confirmation of the change.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-14T21:52:41+00:00

    Thanks Wayne + Simon. To clarify, can you outline steps to disable auto payment?

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-14T05:47:57+00:00

    Great work, Wayne! Thanks. Online support is still not working for me, so I was going to arrange a phone call. Now I don't have to. I've just followed your lead and turned off my recurring billing too. My subscription expires on 19th March. So I shall report back here shortly after that, when I've found out whether this solution works. If it does, I shall mark your post as the solution to the problem.

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