These slimy little suckers called free trials are something we have almost all signed up for at one point or another. We are excited to get something for free. We know we can cancel it anytime prior to the expiration of the trial. We do not think twice about giving our credit card information. Then we are shocked when we forget to cancel and our card is charged.
Nothing is Truly Free
In the end nothing is free (except death). Most people will forget to cancel a free trial prior to the cut-off date or will fail to cancel it in the proper way. The result is we are charged a fee and we will spend hours fighting it. Even if we get the money back we have wasted hours of time fighting for it and that proves to be the cost of the free trial.
If you are going to sign up for a free trial make sure you know exactly what you are getting into. This includes knowing when the trial expires and exactly how you have to cancel the trial before you get charged.
Expiration Date
Never wait until the expiration date to cancel your free trial. Always do it at least one or two days in advance. This will eliminate the chance of something happening that you lose track of time and fail to cancel the trial.
Put the expiration date on your calendar as well as the date you want to cancel your free trial. Make sure you stick to the date so you eliminate the possibility of getting a charge on your credit card.
Proper Cancellation
Every free offer will have the details about how you need to cancel the free trial before you get charged. Make sure you read the information carefully and understand exactly what you need to do in order to cancel the trial period before any money is owed.
Some companies have a very easy and straightforward way to cancel an account. Other companies have more complex ways. It is important that you comply with the exact manner of cancellation outlined in the offer.
False Charges
If you are charged erroneously make sure you contact your credit card company immediately. You will want to dispute the charge and provide the credit card company with the details of the free trial and the manner in which you terminated your account prior to the expiration of the free trial.
You should also contact the vendor and let them know about the charge. They may agree to reverse the charge immediately. At the very least you want them to confirm that you will not be charged anymore from them.
Bottom Line about Free Trials
The bottom line is you need to be diligent about free trials. If you get complacent and fail to comply with the terms of the agreement you may prove to pay a lot of money for your free trial. It is up to you to take stay on top of any free offers and trials to ensure your credit card is not charged.
