“Hurry! This deal won’t last long!” “Limited time offer!” “Free trial, just pay shipping and handling!”
These might sound like good deals at first, but they could be signs that you are about to purchase more than you realize. Before keying in your card and billing information, take a moment to make sure you know what you’re signing up for. If you don’t, it could cost you.
Before you sign up for any free trial, here are some things to look out for:
Read the fine print
By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you might be agreeing to pay for the full cost of the items if you don’t return the unused portions within a certain time period. These might sound like good deals at first, but they could be signs that you are about to purchase more than you realize. Before entering in your card information, take a moment to make sure you know what you’re signing.
Research the company/product
Take the time to search the company name or product name online. Search for customer reviews and complaints.
Know the actual trial period
Don’t get caught calling too late to cancel. Most free trials start the day you place the order, not the day you receive the product.
Understand the return policy
To cancel a free trial, companies usually require you to contact them via phone. Make sure you understand how to contact the company and that you might have to pay to ship back any unused product at the end of the trial offer.
You can also watch this video by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to learn more on using caution with free trial offers.
