Free Trials Are Not Free If You Forget · Credit Avenger Academy

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Free Trials Are Not Free If You Forget

Let's call free trials what they really are: a test of your attention span. The product might be "free," but the business model is simple: Hope you forget->Auto-charge your card->Collect quiet money. As a former debt collector, I can tell you this with confidence: A shocking number of balances start with “I forgot to cancel." Let's shut that down.

The Credit Avenger Rules of Free Trials

Rule #1: Decide before you sign up. If you already know you won't pay for it next month. Treat the trial like a rental, not a relationship. Falling in love with a service you can't afford is how budgets get wrecked.

Rule #2: Cancel immediately (if allowed). Some services allow you to cancel immediately and still use the full trial. Others cut you off instantly.

Before you click "Cancel," check:

"Access until the end of the trial?"
"Ends immediately?"
Read first. Click second.

Rule #3: Use friction against them. Companies build friction to keep you paying. You can flip the script: Set 2 reminders• One 3 days before• One 24 hours before. Use virtual cards. One-time numbers or short expiration dates: surprise charges are blocked. Watch for pre-authorizations. Pending charges during trials are standard. They're testing your card, not charging you… yet.

The Silent Gotcha Most People Miss? Some companies require cancellation 1–2 days BEFORE the trial ends. Miss that window? Charged, Budget annoyed, you frustrated. Always read the cancellation policy on Day 1, not Day 14.

Tip: Always look for the confirmation email. No email = not canceled.

Credit Avenger Bottom Line: Free trials aren't dangerous. Forgetting is.

If you control: