Free trial and subscription trap: how it works, warning signs and what to do
Shopping scams · médio
A free trial or token-price offer asks for your card number. When the period ends, it becomes a paid subscription the person never knowingly chose, sometimes on a pricier tier or with early renewal.
The FTC describes the most common complaints: cancellation buried in menus, hard-to-find buttons, phone-only cancellation with long holds and sales pressure, and charges that continue after a cancellation request. The FTC proposed rules so that cancelling would be as easy as signing up.
Sinais / Signs
- A free trial that requires your card number
- Renewal terms in fine print
- A cancel option that is hidden or phone-only
- Charges on a different plan than you chose
- Charges that continue after you cancel
Prevenção / Prevention
- Read the terms before entering your card
- Note the trial end date and set a reminder
- Use a single-use or limited virtual card for trials
- Review your card statement every month
- Keep proof of cancellation
O que fazer / What to do
- Cancel and keep the confirmation number or email
- Ask your card issuer to block future charges
- Dispute unauthorized charges
- Report to the FTC (US) or your country's consumer protection agency
FAQ
Is this a scam or just bad business practice?
It depends: some legitimate companies use abusive practices and some sites exist only for this. Either way, you can dispute and report.
Can my card issuer block future charges?
Ask your card issuer; it's one of the steps consumers suggested in the FTC alert.
FTC - The pros and cons of free trials, auto-renewals, and subscriptions · FTC - ReportFraud