It used to be very easy to cancel an Avis reservation about 30-60 minutes before the reservation started.

But now looks like due to Avis Preferred the agent has processed the reservation/assigned a car a few hours before official pickup time (in this case about 3 hours before official pickup time) and once this is done I'm unable to cancel the reservation in app anymore at short notice?

This is a pay later reservation (but as Preferred member the card is on file etc)