Is a free trial that charged me after seven days a scam?
Some charges are legitimate subscription terms that were disclosed in small print. Others are subscription traps with deliberately hidden terms. Learn how to tell the difference and how to cancel.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Subscription traps require you to enter card details for a 'free' trial, then automatically charge a monthly or annual fee when the trial expires. Some are fully disclosed in small print you may have missed; others hide the billing terms deliberately or make cancellation deliberately difficult. The key question is whether the billing terms were clearly disclosed before you entered your card. If they were, you may need to follow the cancellation process; if they were hidden or materially misrepresented, you have grounds to dispute the charge with your bank.
The deceptive versions share a design language: the trial price in large type with the recurring charge buried below the button, pre-ticked add-ons, a countdown timer pushing you through checkout, and a cancellation path that requires phoning a line with long holds while signup took one click. Some bill under a company name unrelated to the product, so the statement entry is hard to trace, and some enrol you in a second 'partner' subscription you never saw at all.
When a charge appears, act on both fronts: cancel inside the service to stop future billing, and instruct your bank to block further payments to that merchant — you do not need the merchant's permission to withdraw a recurring payment authority. Screenshot the signup page and terms as they appeared if you can, since that evidence supports a dispute, and report genuinely hidden terms to your national consumer protection body.
Common red flags
- Billing terms appeared only in fine print or were pre-ticked during signup
- No reminder email was sent before the trial converted to a paid subscription
- Cancellation process is difficult to find or requires calling a premium number
- Company name on your bank statement is unrecognisable
What to do now
- Cancel through the company's website or app immediately to stop future charges
- Contact your bank to dispute the charge if terms were hidden or deceptive
- Report aggressive subscription practices to your national consumer authority
- Check for other recurring charges you do not recognise on the same statement
Frequently asked questions
Can my bank stop a recurring charge?
Yes — you can instruct your bank to block further payments from a specific merchant. For debit cards this is a 'continuous payment authority' cancellation; for credit cards you can dispute and request a block.
The company refuses to refund me even though I cancelled. Do I have options?
Yes. If billing terms were hidden or the cancellation route was obstructed, dispute the charge with your card issuer and describe the deceptive flow. Keep screenshots and dates — issuers decide these disputes on documentation.
How can I avoid this trap in future?
Before entering a card for any trial, find the exact renewal price and date in the checkout text, and set a reminder to cancel before it. Virtual or single-use card numbers, where your bank offers them, also cap the damage.