Free Trial Traps and How to Avoid Them

How a free trial becomes a paid plan

Most trials ask for your card number up front. When the trial ends, the business charges that card and keeps charging it until you cancel. This is often called an automatic renewal.

The FTC advises that before you sign up, you should know how long the trial lasts, what it will cost afterward, and how and when to cancel. If you cannot find those terms, the FTC says not to sign up.

Watch for weekly pricing

Some offers show a price per week instead of per month or year. A small weekly number can add up fast. For example, $7.99 a week is about $415 a year. Before you agree, turn any weekly price into a yearly number so you know what you are really signing up for.

Also check whether the trial is a few days rather than a full week or month. Short trials leave little time to decide.

Pre-checked boxes and add-ons

Look closely at every box on the sign-up screen. A box that is already checked might sign you up for a paid plan, an extra product, or sharing your information. The FTC says to uncheck any box you do not agree with.

Be careful with offers that are free but ask you to pay shipping or a small fee. The FTC's advice is simple: free means free.

Set a reminder the moment you sign up

Do this right away, before you forget. Apple, for example, says that if you don't want a trial to renew, you should cancel it at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Other businesses may have their own deadlines, so read the terms.

• Put a reminder on your phone calendar two or three days before the trial ends.
• Write the trial end date and the price in the reminder.
• Note where you need to go to cancel.
• After you cancel, look for a confirmation screen or email and save it.

Use a virtual card number if your card offers one

Some banks and card issuers let you create a virtual card number, which is a separate number linked to your real account. Some let you set a spending limit, make a number that works only once, or turn the number off later. If a trial charges that number after you turn it off, the charge may be declined.

Not every card offers this, and the features vary. Check your card's app or website. Even with a virtual number, you should still cancel the trial properly, because you may still owe money under the terms you agreed to.