Twitch has been charging users for monthly subscriptions to permanently banned streamers, directly contradicting their own policy that should automatically cancel these recurring payments. Subscribers are stuck in a bizarre situation where they continue to pay for content they can no longer access after their favorite streamers get booted from the platform.
The Amazon-owned streaming giant’s official stance is clear: subscriptions shouldn’t renew when a broadcaster faces the ban hammer. Yet multiple reports indicate this system isn’t working as intended—or perhaps, more cynically, it’s working exactly as designed to maintain revenue streams.
This questionable practice came to light when news outlet, Dexerto started investigating specific cases. In a curious move, some streamers suddenly had their “permanent” bans lifted within 24 hours of these media inquiries, making people question Twitch’s ban enforcement and transparency.
What’s particularly frustrating for affected users is the one-sided transaction. While subscribers continue to be charged monthly fees, they gain absolutely nothing in return—no content, no emotes, and no community access. Meanwhile, banned streamers reportedly still receive their cut of subscription money despite being unable to create new content.
BTEW IF YOU ARE STILL RENEWED SUBBING TO ME ON TWITCH cancel it and become a member to me on YouTube instead, idk how it’s even possible twitch can ban me and still take 50% of revenue on a channel that they won’t unban but it’s quite literally robbing people.
— Tempest (@WayOfTheTempest) September 21, 2022
The situation highlights the gray area in Twitch’s definition of “permanent” bans, which critics have long pointed out often turn out to be merely indefinite suspensions. This subscription loophole seems to benefit both Twitch and banned creators financially, with paying users left with the short end of the stick.
Twitch has remained quiet about these specific allegations, offering no official explanation for why their system fails to automatically terminate subscriptions as their policy states it should. The platform also hasn’t addressed how banned streamers continue receiving payouts.
