Free Trials
Ok! So, we’ve all had unprecedented freedom this year to stream and watch and listen to various forms of media. Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Showtime, Sirius, Spotify… Etc, etc. There are so many things to watch and many platforms to pay for. But who wants to pay? So here’s a little trick I'd like to share with you. All these platforms offer free trials. We all know this. Of course, the trouble is, the platform wants you to sign up for the free trial, which requires your debit or credit card, and then have you forget to cancel, automatically charging you for the rest of the time.
Here are some simple tips and tricks on how to avoid being charged. The first line of defense is to not forget and cancel properly. This cannot be left up to chance. You must set a timer, alarm, or calendar reminder that tells you to cancel the subscription. You must learn not to mentally dismiss the urgency of such warnings. When you see this reminder, cancel the subscription immediately! Otherwise, you could get charged. But don’t worry, I have a solution in case that happens. Below is an example of how I do not leave free trial cancellations up to chance.
Sometimes life gets busy, and we cannot cancel subscriptions in time. As soon as we see the notice that we have been charged, we feel regret at our underused free trial and our lack of execution. Have no fear! There is a way to be refunded a vast majority of the time. Below is a template that works.
Template for refund when you have failed to cancel a free trial in time:
Hello [Company Name],
I have tried your service and found it clunky and not up to par. I intended on canceling, but there were many technical difficulties and confusion. I sincerely look forward to your canceling and refunding me this charge, which has been a mistake. I thank you in advance for rectifying this issue, and I am sure we won’t run into any difficulties as your business model surely does not hinge upon charging customers who failed to cancel.
I’ve had a 100 percent success rate with this strategy. I hope this helps you stream and expand your media options while saving you money or helping you cancel needless accidental charges. Stay tuned for more tips on how to thrive as a consumer and minimize the degree to which companies take advantage of you! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to providing you with new consumer tips every week!