BUDGETINGLIFESTYLE & TRAVEL

Avoid the Traps of Free Trials

Explore costs associated with the trial

Free product trials may have a shipping cost associated with receiving the sample. Research this fee before entering your payment information, as shipping charges can be inflated to offset the actual cost of the product. Some products or services may come with a required up-front charge that is refunded upon cancellation, or you may be required to return a product to receive your money back. By reading all the terms of a trial closely, you can avoid spending unintended money.

Search for ways to cancel immediately after signing up

As soon as you submit your payment information, it’s a good idea to figure out how to cancel the service when you’re ready. Some trials will allow you to cancel the recurring portion of the agreement immediately after signing up, while still enjoying your free trial period. Doing this can give you peace of mind and prevent you from forgetting to cancel. If you decide you like the product or service, companies always make it easy to continue the contract or membership.

Monitor your financial statements

When you sign up with a particular payment method, monitor the statements for that account to make sure there aren’t charges you’re not expecting. If you catch a charge early, it’s easier to dispute it and attempt to get a refund than if you’ve been billed several months in a row or if it’s been a long time since the charge was made. Many companies offering free trials count on a small percentage of people forgetting they agreed to a recurring expense and it may be months before the charges are noticed.