Cancel auto-renewal without cancelling subscription and getting charged the $99 BS fee.

I forgot why I hate adobe so much, but after years away I needed to start work on a project using photoshop.  I signed up for the monthly bill (glossing over the "annual" part - and I think they do their best not to inform you of the $99 fee to cancel).   Life got busy and after 3 months of being charged and no time to work on my project I decided to cancel and come back when I have more time.  Surprise - $99 fee!   Ok, well at least let me turn off auto-renew so next year I don't end up with another years commitment.  

30 mins wasted with the "help bot", and I am unsure what to do.   I think my only option is to cancel the membership so I can cancel auto-renew.  Pay the $99, plus the wasted 3 months I never got around to my project and chalk up  the $160 as a reminder to stay away from Adobe as a consumer.   

Am I missing away to turn off auto-renew without cancelling?   Is there a way to "pause" membership?  Or should I eat $160 and move to Affinity?