An Azure service that provides hardware security module management.
For a free trial that accidentally incurred high charges, there are three key steps: stop the spend, address the subscription, then remove the card.
- Stop further charges by removing/turning off resources
Delete or stop the Managed HSM and any other active resources in the subscription so no new usage is generated. This is required before canceling or deleting the subscription. - Cancel the Azure subscription
For a free trial (pay-as-you-go style) subscription, cancel it in the Azure portal. When a subscription is canceled, billing for that subscription stops immediately. If you see a message that you still have active resources when trying to delete the subscription, there might be hidden resources:- Go to Subscriptions → select the subscription → Resources.
- At the top, select Manage view → Show hidden types.
- Delete any remaining resources.
- Remove or delete the payment method (card)
By design, a card cannot be removed while it is the active payment method for an active subscription. The options are:- Add a new payment method and move the subscription to it, then delete the old card; or
- Cancel the subscription, then remove the card from the account.
- Sign in to the Azure portal.
- Go to Cost Management + Billing.
- Select the correct billing scope.
- Under Billing, select Billing profiles → choose the profile using the card.
- Under Billing, select Payment methods.
- Under Your Credit Cards, find the card, select the ellipsis (...) → Delete.
- If Azure reports that the payment method is in use, it must be detached or the subscription canceled first.
- If charges already exceeded free credits
If actual charges have already posted beyond the free credits, open a billing/support request from the Azure portal and explain that this was accidental usage on a free trial. Any refund or adjustment is handled only by support. - Plan to avoid future unexpected charges
For future use, set up budgets and alerts and review estimated costs before creating services using the pricing calculator and cost analysis tools.
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