NEVER sign up for a free trial

mikewoodbooks · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 04:58 PM

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way to never sign up for a "free trial." These seem to always require a credit card for "registration purposes." Everytime I have done this I have been very diligent to cancel a couple days before the free trial ends. Yet the companies always go ahead and charge my credit card anyway. Then I end up wasting a couple hours of my time before finally getting credited. This has happened with eMusic.com and most recently with foreclosure.com. Lesson learned.

JanH · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:10 PM

I also dislike those "free" magazines they try to give you at checkouts. The one time I did it, they debited my card for two magazine subscriptions. I had to call and get them cancelled. I never wanted them to continue beyond the trial and didn't know they would just keep on coming and use the card that you used at the checkout to pay for them. I stopped that in a hurry.

mom2manyboyz · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 09:44 PM

I agree. I know people that claim they make money online by signing up for free trials. The hassle when they "forget" to cancel your membership is NOT worth it. Also, they sell your mailing address or email address and you will get junk mail and spam.

poundwise · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 07:25 AM

In general, I avoid most free trial offers but, when I do decide to take advantage of one, I use a secure card number generated online with my credit card company. Then, I cancel/disable that card number before the trial ends or before I elect not to renew/participate. The company/service couldn't charge me anything even if they tried.

Regardless, I definitely don't participate in those ridiculous 'sign-up for offers to earn something' scams.

asmom · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 09:45 AM

I always sign up for free trials! I get a lot of free gifts and sometimes money and more importantly, I never get charged on my credit card. Also I don't run into any hassle cancelling. Half the time, I can do an online cancel and on the occasions when I can't, I just very firmly tell the CSR that I don't want it, no further explanation needed. I don't know what happens in your case but it never happens to me. (now watch it happens to me the next time I do it)

Ima saver · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 12:10 PM

I never sign up either cause I don't want the hassle of trying to cancel.

cptacek · #7 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poundwise

In general, I avoid most free trial offers but, when I do decide to take advantage of one, I use a secure card number generated online with my credit card company. Then, I cancel/disable that card number before the trial ends or before I elect not to renew/participate. The company/service couldn't charge me anything even if they tried.

That's a good idea. I had never thought of that.

tark · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2008, 07:38 PM

That has also happened to me a few times >

I sign up for the free trial and they charge my account! Since those few bad experiences, I have not done many free trials.

grandmaruth · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2008, 08:46 PM

That is true... happened to me many times... ESPECIALLY WITH CANCELLING AOL

ScrimpAndSave · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2008, 09:07 PM

OMG! I cannot figure out how to cancel with emusic! I don't know my account number and they charge me EVERY MONTH!

momof1in150 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 04:07 AM

The only free trial I have done is Amazon Prime. You get a free 3 month trial for free shipping (no minimum) and it is 2 day shipping. You can go in your account an click "do not automatically update" and it won't charge your card after the 3 month trial. I use Amazon a lot for Christmas shopping so it will come in handy this year as I don't want to drive a lot and free shipping will save me money by not running around to a bunch of stores.

JeanneElle · #12 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 11:32 PM

I usually accept the free trail book offers for new series from Grolier. They send you one book for free and one at regular price, and you preview the regular price book and can send it back without paying. Or you can pay for that one, keep both, and they'll send you the rest of the series.

What I do is keep both, because it's like getting two books for the price of one, and then cancel so I don't get the rest of the series. I've never had any problems at all with it and never get charged anything other than the one book.

atorrin · #13 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 12:50 AM

I have signed up for these a couple of times without hassle.

nim3 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 06:31 AM

I find them really useful. Used lots myself such as free dvd trials blockbuster etc, never been charged.

RedThunderBird · #15 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poundwise

In general, I avoid most free trial offers but, when I do decide to take advantage of one, I use a secure card number generated online with my credit card company. Then, I cancel/disable that card number before the trial ends or before I elect not to renew/participate. The company/service couldn't charge me anything even if they tried.

Regardless, I definitely don't participate in those ridiculous 'sign-up for offers to earn something' scams.

well that is good thing to learn --- I read magazines at the library , and if I like that much ==== then I subscribe or go to their web site

I used to spend a lot of money in National Geographic [ real nice ] or the Smithsonian but the day I moved , and I couldn't give them away to the library [ time was a huge factor , as always ] I stopped all my subscriptions , except for the ones I truly need ===== I miss them though