How to Spot a Subscription Trap Before You Sign Up
Free trials and "just £1" offers can quietly turn into monthly bills.
Subscription traps are one of the most common complaints people raise with consumer advice services. The pattern is simple: a low-cost or free start, then regular payments that are hard to stop.
Warning Signs
- A free or very cheap trial that asks for your card details.
- The price after the trial is in small print, or not shown until the last step.
- Cancelling needs a phone call, a form buried in settings, or notice by post.
- Pressure such as countdown timers or "offer ends today".
Protect Yourself
- Before you sign up, find out how to cancel. If it is hard to find, think twice.
- Put a reminder in your calendar for the day before the trial ends.
- Check your bank statements monthly for payments you do not recognise.
Already caught? See our cancel a subscription guides or get an action plan.
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