Is it legal to charge after a "free" trial period?

Question

You've all seen them. "Free 7 day trial" or whatever. But then they ask for your credit card information because if you don't cancel after the 7 days they immediately and indefinitely charge your card unless you're proactive. Just wondering if this is legal?

Answer 1

What exists here is a contractual agreement.  In all of these free trial periods, you will see some policy that will say if you do not cancel you will be charged.  Accepting the policy by using the trial is the same as signing a contract.

Answer 2

Totally legal.

Answer 3

Of course its legal. Its just like any other contract. As long as the company states all the terms in writing and notifies you of them before you sign, then its legal.

If it wasn't legal, there would have already been tons of lawsuits over the issue and companies would stop doing it.

Answer 4

Very Legal.  I hate them and think they are unethical.

So I never sign up for them.

Answer 5

Yup.  ALWAYS read the fine print.

Answer 6

Yes it is. AOL is the biggest rip-off when it comes to this. They set up certain "timeframes" that you must call to cancel within. It can take months to get cancelled.

Answer 7

Sure it is.

Just don't forget to cancel.

Richard

Answer 8

It's legal, as long as they let you know in advanced that you will be charged if you don't cancel.

You need to be very careful will these type of offers. When does the free trial start? Most people assume it would start when you receive the product, but that is not always the case. A lot of places start the free trial from when you accept it. Some places also make it difficult to cancel before the free trial is up. They get upset if you try to cancel. They hound you to not cancel. And any other trick they can think of.

It is a contract, so you are free to try to change the terms of the contract. I always tell them that I will accept it only if it cancels automatically at the end of the free trial unless I call and notify them that I wish to continue and be charged for it. So far, none have accepted my terms, and I have not accepted theirs.