Free trials: how not to get charged

Why free trials catch people

A free trial almost always needs a card, and turns into a paid plan automatically when it ends — sometimes billed for a full year. It's one of the most common ways people end up paying for things they don't use.

Good habits

1. Cancel right after signing up. Most services — Amazon Prime, Paramount+, app subscriptions through the App Store or Google Play — keep your access until the trial ends.
2. Put the end date in your calendar, with a reminder two days before.
3. Read the renewal price and period: monthly or yearly?
4. Use a virtual card if your bank offers one.

Already charged?

• Cancel immediately to avoid the next period.
• Ask the company or app store for a refund — many refund a renewal that happened just after a trial.
• If needed, dispute the charge.

California and other states require clear disclosure when a trial converts to paid — see state auto-renewal laws.