It All Starts With “Free”

Ever signed up for a “free trial” only to find a mysterious charge on your card weeks later? You’re not alone. What starts as a no-risk offer often turns into a monthly nightmare. Many companies bank on the fact that users forget to cancel, and they bury the billing details in fine print.

✅ What They Don’t Tell You

Behind most “free trials,” there’s an auto-renewal clause. These companies rarely send reminders — and by the time you check your bank statement, you’ve already been billed.

🔸 Hidden cancellation links
🔸 Limited support responses
🔸 No refund policy (after the first charge)
🔸 Deliberate delays in customer service

Real Stories, Real Loss

One of our readers, James, signed up for a software trial for video editing. It worked fine for a few days, but soon he noticed $39.99 charged every month — even though he’d deleted the app. The company offered no cancellation route and ignored refund requests.

🔸 “I thought it was a simple trial. I never agreed to subscribe,” – James, UK

How to Stay Safe

🔸 Read the cancellation terms before entering your card details
🔸 Use a virtual card with spending limits
🔸 Set reminders to cancel
🔸 Take screenshots of the terms while signing up

Report These Scams

If you’ve been trapped by a trial scam, don’t stay silent. Report it using our Report Scam form, and we’ll investigate and raise awareness.

• Exposing these patterns is the first step to stopping them.