Free trial traps

Lesson 6 of 12 in our free Bills & Subscriptions guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Bills & Subscriptions is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

A company keeps charging your card after you cancelled. What can you do?

Red flag: “Card details required to start your trial” — They need your card so it can auto-charge when the trial ends.
Red flag: “Then just £79.99 billed annually” — An annual charge hits all at once — easy to miss in the small print.
Red flag: “Cancel anytime* *by phone during office hours” — Making cancelling harder than signing up is a classic trap.
Myth: “Free trials always end automatically.” — Most roll straight into paid plans.
Fact: “You can cancel a recurring card payment through your bank, not just the company.” — Banks must stop it if you ask — you may still owe for the service used.
Fact: “Using a calendar reminder for trial end dates is one of the easiest money wins.” — Two minutes now, £80 saved later.