You clicked "try for free". The company says you agreed to months of payments. The first question is not simply whether the trial was free — it is what the trader told you before you became bound.
A Free Trial Can Become a Paid Contract — But the Terms Matter
EU consumer law requires traders to provide clear, correct and understandable pre-contract information before a consumer buys a service online or through another distance-selling method. That information can include the main characteristics, total price, payment arrangements, duration of the contract and, where applicable, the right to cancel.
For a trial that automatically becomes a paid subscription, the practical question is whether the recurring payment, renewal mechanism and other material terms were sufficiently disclosed before you were bound.
What to Check Before You Click
- Trial price and duration: exactly how long is the introductory period?
- Post-trial price: what will the recurring payment actually be?
- Billing interval: monthly, annual or another frequency?
- Renewal mechanism: does the contract continue unless you cancel?
- Cancellation and withdrawal: what method and time limit apply?
Your Europe says online buyers must receive detailed information before purchase, including the duration of the contract where applicable and information about the right to cancel where one exists.
Do Not Confuse the 14-Day Withdrawal Right With a General Right to Cancel at Any Time
For many distance contracts, EU rules provide a 14-day withdrawal period. But there are important exceptions, including certain digital content once performance has begun with the required express consent and acknowledgement, and services once fully performed under the conditions set by the Consumer Rights Directive.
Whether a particular free trial can still be withdrawn from depends on what was supplied, what the consumer agreed to, and the national measures implementing the EU rules.
Save the Evidence Before the Trial Converts
- Screenshot the original offer.
- Save the checkout page showing price and renewal information.
- Keep the terms and confirmation email.
- Record the trial end date.
- Save any cancellation confirmation.
- Keep the first recurring charge on your statement.
If the Trader Says You Agreed to Months of Payments
Ask the trader to identify the exact contract term that created the recurring obligation and when that term was presented to you. Compare it with what you actually saw at checkout.
If the payment or renewal term was hidden, unclear or misleading, that can raise consumer-law questions. EU unfair-contract rules require standard terms to be transparent and prohibit terms that create a significant imbalance to the consumer's detriment.
What This Means for You
- Do not treat "free" as the only material term.
- Capture the price after the trial before entering payment details.
- Check the renewal mechanism and the applicable cancellation or withdrawal rights.
- Keep the original terms, not just a later version from the website.
- Remember that national consumer law can provide additional protections beyond the EU baseline.
Related Kibbo Tools
Sources
- Your Europe — Information you should get when buying, signing a contract. europa.eu
- European Commission — Consumer Rights Directive. commission.europa.eu
- European Commission — Unfair Contract Terms Directive. commission.europa.eu
- EUR-Lex — Directive 2011/83/EU, including withdrawal-right exceptions. eur-lex.europa.eu