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MACON - Free trials have become a go-to marketing strategy—especially for subscription-based services—and for good reason. When you shop online, you don’t get to touch, test, or experience a product firsthand. That’s where free trials offer a low-risk way to try something out before committing. It’s a win-win: sellers get to showcase their product, and buyers can make more confident decisions.
But before you click “start your free trial,” there are a few important things you should know to avoid unexpected charges and post-trial surprises.
Here's what to look out for:
• Investigate the offer. Before signing up, find out how long the trial period lasts, what exactly you are agreeing to, and how and when you would cancel should you decide you don’t want to subscribe. If this information is confusing or unavailable, it’s best to take your business elsewhere.• Review the signup form and look for pre-checked boxes. If you sign up for a free trial online, look for boxes that have already been checked, advises the Federal Trade Commission(FTC). The FTC warns that the checkmark "may give the company the green light to continue the offer past the free trial or sign you up for more products."
• Mark your calendar. Your free trial probably has a time limit. Once that passes, if you haven’t canceled your “order,” you may be on the hook for more products. Be sure to either notify the company early of your decision to cancel or track the cancellation date on your calendar.
• Always review your credit and debit card statements. This will help you know immediately if you are being charged for something you didn’t order. If you see charges you disagree with, contact the company directly to sort out the situation. Call your credit card company to dispute the charge if that doesn't work. Ask the credit card company to reverse the charge because you didn’t actively order the additional merchandise.
• Research the company online. You can check reports with bbb.org and do other online searches to see what other people say about the company’s free trials — and its service. The FTC points out that "complaints from other customers can tip you off to 'catches' that might come with the trial."
Also do general research on the company. See if you can find them on social media and review their account. In addition to checking with BBB, consider doing an online search of the company and include the words “scam” or “complaint,” to reveal red flags you should be aware of.
• Find the terms and conditions for the offer. Even if you heard about an offer through a radio, TV, or print ad, the company should still provide the details on its website. As many BBB Scam Tracker reports show, you shouldn't sign up if you can’t find the terms and conditions or understand exactly what you’re agreeing to.
• Always protect your personal information online. When you sign up for a free trial online, you’ll likely need to provide some basic personal information and your credit card number. Before you hand over your information, review the site’s privacy policy and ensure the website is secure, that is, it starts with “https://” and has a lock icon on the sign-up page.
• Want to subscribe past the free trial? Understand how to cancel future shipments or services first. Know the policies for canceling or pausing your subscription. Do you need to respond or cancel by a certain time each month?
Subscription services can be perfect for busy individuals and can make great holiday gifts (it's the gift that keeps on giving!) But picking the right option can be hard with so many options and price points.
Video and music streaming services are hugely popular. Meal delivery services provide fresh, pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes on a subscription basis. You can also sign up for regular shipments of snacks, clothing, personal grooming products, makeup, vitamins, pet toys, wine, and the list goes on.
Here’s some things to know or gather about a subscription service before you sign up:
• Understand how auto-renewal works. Auto-renewals are a convenient way to keep your subscription current if you like the service. The company charges your credit or debit card on the expiration date, and the subscription renews for another period.
• Periodically review your active subscriptions. If you aren’t careful, you could lose track of what subscription services you are paying for. To maintain your financial health, Forbes reminds consumers to determine how much they spend on subscriptions. Periodically review your subscriptions to make sure you’re still using them. If you are signed up for multiple subscriptions, a subscription management app can help you keep track of and manage them.
Always check your bank and credit card statements to ensure the cost is what you expect. If you notice a price jump, it could be that you were signed up for a promotional period that ended.
• Watch out for scams. Scammers may offer you free trials or deals on subscriptions that seem too good to be true, hoping you’ll sign up and hand over your credit card number. Don’t believe deals that seem outrageously good. In addition, if you receive a “renewal notice” that asks you for your credit card information, think twice before you reply. It’s likely the message is a scam. Renewal notices are reminders from a company that already has your payment information. Always contact the company directly to verify suspicious messages.
You can get more tips from your BBB about ways to safely shop online by visiting BBB.org.
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Kelvin Collins is president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the Fall Line Corridor, serving 77 counties in East Alabama, West Georgia, Southwest Georgia, Central Georgia, East Georgia, and Western South Carolina. This tips column is provided through the local BBB and the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB). The Better Business Bureau sets standards for ethical business behavior, monitors compliance and helps consumers identify trustworthy businesses. Questions or complaints about a specific company or charity should be referred directly to the BBB at Phone: 1-800-763-4222, Web site: www.bbb.org or E-mail: info@centralgeorgia.bbb.org