Subscriptions and free trials: staying in control

Streaming, music, cloud storage, food boxes, language apps: subscriptions are designed to be easy to start and easy to forget. This lesson goes beyond the basics in Money Basics and shows you how to audit, cancel and dispute them.

How subscriptions catch people out

• The FTC says to expect to give a card number for a free trial, and to expect to be charged if you do not cancel before it ends.
• If you must pay shipping or fees, the trial is not really free. As the FTC puts it, 'Free means free.'
• Pre-ticked boxes can authorise ongoing charges, extra products or sharing your information. Untick them (FTC).
• Renewal prices can be higher than the first-year promotional price. The FTC advises checking the renewal price matches what you expected.

Before you start any free trial

• Read how long the trial lasts and exactly how and when to cancel. The FTC says if you cannot find or understand the terms, do not sign up.
• Put a reminder in your calendar two days before the trial ends, with a note of how to cancel.
• Apple advises cancelling a trial subscription at least 24 hours before the trial ends if you do not want it to renew.
• Consider using a card you check often, so a surprise charge is spotted quickly.
• Search the company name with 'complaint' or 'scam' before giving card details (FTC).

Doing a subscription audit

• Go through two months of bank and card statements and list every repeating payment, with the amount and the date it leaves.
• Check app store subscriptions too. On an iPhone, Apple says to open Settings, tap your name, then tap Subscriptions.
• Mark each one: keep, pause, downgrade or cancel. Ask: did I use this in the last month?
• Worked example: AED 30 streaming, AED 20 music, AED 15 cloud storage and AED 45 gym app is AED 110 a month, or AED 1,320 a year.
• Check for student plans: many services offer a student price with proof of enrolment.

Cancelling properly

• Follow the company's own cancellation instructions, keep a copy of your cancellation request, and note any conversations (FTC).
• On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose the subscription and tap the cancel option. If you see an expiry message in red, it is already cancelled (Apple).
• Deleting an app does not cancel the subscription. Cancel it in the account or app store settings.
• Check your next statement to make sure no further charge appears (FTC).
• Script for an email: 'Please cancel my subscription (account email: ...) with effect from today and confirm in writing that no further payments will be taken.'

If you are charged after cancelling

• Contact the company first with your proof of cancellation and ask for a refund.
• If it refuses, the FTC says to dispute the charge (a chargeback) with your card company straight away, online or by calling the number on the back of your card.
• Save all letters, notes and emails about the charge (FTC).
• UK rules are changing: the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 introduces a subscription contracts regime with renewal reminders, cooling-off periods and easier online cancellation. A September 2026 legal briefing reports it will start in January 2027 (Brodies).
• In the UAE, if a UAE business will not cancel or refund, you can complain to the Ministry of Economy on 800 1222 or your emirate's economic department (u.ae).