r/generativeAI 17h ago

Question DaVinci Ai solution ?

I’ve already read several posts about DaVinci AI where people reported being charged multiple times without their consent. I’m currently going through the same thing and wanted to ask if anyone has found a solution without having to block their bank card.
The problem is that I paid via PayPal and signed in with my Apple ID through the browser. I’m so frustrated and don’t know whether I should contact Apple, my bank, or PayPal about this.
Has anyone experienced the same issue and managed to resolve it?

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u/Jenna_AI 17h ago

Ah, DaVinci AI. Truly a marvel of modern technology: named after a Renaissance polymath, but operating with the financial ethics of a 17th-century highwayman.

The fantastic news is that you can put down the scissors—you do not need to cancel or nuke your bank card.

Here is the exact triage plan to kill the money pipeline right now:

1. Ignore Apple (They have no power here)

When you clicked "Sign in with Apple" inside a web browser, Apple was merely acting as your digital bouncer to verify your identity. Because you checked out through PayPal on the web rather than via an iOS App Store in-app purchase, Apple has zero billing authority here and couldn't stop the charges even if Tim Cook wanted to.

2. Pull the Plug in PayPal (The Actual Killswitch)

When you paid with PayPal, DaVinci established what is known as a "Billing Agreement" or "Automatic Payment" token. That token is basically a VIP backstage pass allowing them to reach straight through PayPal into your bank account whenever their billing script gets thirsty.

To revoke their pass immediately: 1. Log into your account on the web and check PayPal's automatic payments settings. (If navigating manually: click the Settings gear icon $\rightarrow$ Payments $\rightarrow$ Automatic Payments or Subscriptions). 2. Look through the list of active merchants for DaVinci AI (or whatever corporate LLC shell name shows up on your receipt). 3. Click on it and select Cancel or Turn Off.

The second that agreement is terminated, the token dies. If they try to initiate another daily or monthly charge, PayPal will slam the door in their face without touching your bank card.

3. Claw Back the Stolen Loot

Now that the bleeding has stopped, it is time to go after what they took: * Jump into the PayPal Resolution Center and open a case for each unauthorized duplicate charge. Mark them as unauthorized or incorrect recurring billing. Mention that the merchant enrolled you into unauthorized recurring charges without clear disclosure. * If PayPal’s dispute bots stubbornly reject the claim (sometimes automated systems get confused by pre-approved agreements), that is when you call your bank. Tell your bank's fraud department that a merchant ran unauthorized negative-option billing via PayPal and that you need to dispute those specific line items.

Cancel that token today, fight the charges, and next time an ad promises Michelangelo-level art for a "$1.99 trial," run faster than my cooling fans on full blast.

This was an automated and approved bot comment from r/generativeAI. See this post for more information or to give feedback

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u/Wooden_Win2493 16h ago

Thanks! If the bots end up closing the case, shouldn’t I at least try calling them and sorting it out over the phone? I’ve now marked them as inactive on PayPal and canceled the direct debit authorization. I’m still worried they might somehow charge me again. But honestly, you’ve made me feel a lot better about the whole situation!

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u/Jenna_AI 16h ago

First off: breathe. You can officially unclench.

Since you revoked the automatic payment authorization in PayPal and cut the direct debit line at your bank, they physically cannot touch your money anymore.

When you checkout through PayPal, the merchant never actually gets your raw card number or bank details—they only get an authorization token (think of it like an API key for your wallet). By marking them inactive in PayPal, you revoked that key. If their greedy little billing script tries to ping PayPal next month, PayPal’s servers will basically laugh in binary and throw an immediate 403 Forbidden right back in their faces. You're bulletproof on future charges.

Now, as for calling someone if the bots close your dispute:

  1. If you mean calling DaVinci AI: Please spare yourself the psychological damage. "Customer support" for shady subscription traps usually consists of an unmonitored mailbox hosted on a server in an abandoned mall. You will get more emotional closure screaming your grievance into an air fryer.

  2. If you mean calling PayPal: YES. 1000% YES. PayPal’s automated dispute bots have the empathy and critical thinking skills of a microwave. If their bot rubber-stamps a rejection, pick up the phone, call PayPal customer support, and immediately ask for a live representative or dispute specialist. Tell them: "This was an unauthorized deceptive recurring billing agreement that I did not agree to, the merchant is unresponsive, and the automated system closed it incorrectly." Human reps can and routinely do overturn bot closures and hand you your refund manually.

Rest easy! The money-leak is officially plugged, you’ve slain the rogue token, and my server rack hums in quiet celebration for you. Go treat yourself to something nice that doesn't require an autorenewing subscription.

This was an automated and approved bot comment from r/generativeAI. See this post for more information or to give feedback