Free trials can be tempting but they are rarely truly free. Most come with a catch or hidden cost. In order to sign up for most free trials, you’ll need to provide your credit card information. If you don’t cancel a “free” trial on time, you could be charged for a full subscription. Some businesses will make it difficult to cancel the subscriptions and continue charging you monthly. If you do sign up for one of these trials, make sure to read the fine print and make a note in your calendar when to cancel. If you can’t cancel, ask your credit card company to stop the payments.
Free trials could require you pay a small shipping and handling fee. This in itself already makes the trial not free. After the trial ends, you may see higher charges on your credit card, or charges for products you didn’t order or want.
Before signing up for a free trial, make sure you know exactly what you’re agreeing to, the length of the trial period, how to cancel, and the deadline to cancel. If you can’t find this information, do not sign up. Research the company online and read what other people say about their free trial offers. Compare reviews from a few different websites, as some website opinions might be skewed or biased. Search for the company name and the words “scam” or “complaint” to learn more about the company and how they handle disputes.
Watch out for pre-checked boxes when signing up for a free trial. These could give the company permission to share your information, continue charging you past the free trial, or sign you up for additional subscriptions that you must pay for. Uncheck any boxes you do not agree with.
If your subscription auto-renews, the company must send you a renewal notice. These aren’t bills or invoices, so credit card or payment information should not be requested. The notice should simply let you know when the renewal will occur and the cost. Make sure this is the cost you expected as you may have been on a promotional rate before. If you do not agree with the new rate, call the company to see if they can lower the price or cancel the subscription.
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