A Dimers survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found 79% said they had signed up for a free trial, intended to cancel, then forgot and were charged. The reported average cost was $45 a month, or about $540 a year; monthly averages reached $98 in Washington and $90 in North Carolina.
Free trials often require a credit card and renew automatically if customers do not cancel by the deadline; some can lead to annual plans or paid add-ons disclosed in fine print. The survey also found 88% of U.S. consumers had added unneeded items to an online cart to qualify for free shipping.
Experts recommend noting a trial’s end date and setting cancellation reminders a day or two beforehand, then checking bank and credit-card statements for recurring charges. Consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch said people who promptly notice an unwanted charge can contact customer service to ask for a full or prorated refund.
