Can I get a refund if I forgot to cancel my free trial?

Often yes, especially if you ask within a few days and did not use the paid period. Many merchants refund first-time trial conversions to avoid disputes, even when their terms say charges are non-refundable.

Are free trials that auto-charge legal?

Automatic conversion is allowed in the US, but under the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA), online sellers must clearly disclose the terms, get your express consent before charging, and give you a simple way to stop recurring charges. Many states add their own automatic renewal rules.

Can I dispute a free trial charge with my bank?

Yes. For credit cards, the Fair Credit Billing Act generally gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a billing error in writing. Contact the merchant first, then include your cancellation proof and their reply, or their silence, with the dispute.

What if I subscribed through the App Store or Google Play?

Then the charge came from Apple or Google, not the app. Request the refund through reportaproblem.apple.com or your Google Play order history. The app developer usually cannot refund store charges directly.

How do I stop the merchant from charging my card again?

Cancel in the account and keep the confirmation. If charges continue, ask your bank to block future payments to that merchant. For debit cards, you can stop preauthorized recurring payments by notifying your bank at least 3 business days before the next scheduled charge.

Free trial refund guide

Charged after a free trial: how to get your money back

Free for 7 days, then charged in full.

Updated October 3, 2026 · General information, not legal advice

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01
Cancel before anything else
Stop the next charge first, then screenshot the cancellation confirmation with the date visible. A refund request from an active subscriber is much easier to deny.
02
Capture what you were shown at signup
Save the trial offer page, checkout screen, and welcome email. Note whether the price, the trial end date, and how to cancel were clearly stated before you entered your card.
03
Ask for a refund within days, not weeks
Send one short request that names the charge, says you did not use the paid period, and asks for a full refund with a 5 business day deadline. Speed is your strongest argument.

Letter generator

Free trial refund templates

Pick the version that matches where you are. Replace the bracketed details, attach the cancellation screenshot, and send it to the support email or billing contact listed on your receipt.

01First request: I forgot to cancel

Hello, my free trial of [service] ended on [date] and I was charged [amount]. I meant to cancel before the trial ended and have now canceled; the confirmation is attached.

I have not used the service since the charge. Please refund the full [amount] to my original payment method.

Could you confirm the refund within 5 business days? Thank you.

02First request: the terms were not clear

Hello, I was charged [amount] on [date] after a free trial of [service]. At signup, the price and the date the trial would convert to a paid plan were not clearly shown, and I did not agree to a paid subscription.

I have canceled and have not used the paid period. Screenshots of the signup page and my cancellation are attached.

Please refund the full charge within 5 business days and confirm that no further payments will be taken.

03Follow-up after "trial charges are non-refundable"

Thank you for your reply. I understand your policy, but the charge was made without a clear disclosure of the price and renewal date before signup, and I canceled within [number] days without using the service.

I am asking once more for a full refund of [amount]. The screenshots and cancellation confirmation I sent show the timeline.

If this is not resolved within 3 business days, I will dispute the charge with my card issuer and include this correspondence.

04Card dispute summary for your bank

I am disputing a charge of [amount] from [merchant] posted on [date]. It was an automatic conversion from a free trial that I did not knowingly agree to continue.

I canceled on [date] (confirmation attached), have not used the paid service, and asked the merchant for a refund on [date]. They [refused / did not reply].

I am requesting reversal of this charge and a block on future recurring charges from this merchant.

Need the letter tailored to your exact timeline, plus an escalation message and a bank dispute summary? Build the full package in the workspace.

How this works

A "free" trial that quietly turns into a full-price charge is one of the most common refund cases, and one of the most winnable. Merchants are expected to show the price and renewal date clearly before the trial starts and to give you a simple way to stop it. If either was missing, or you never used the paid period, you have a real case. Act fast: the first few days after the charge are when refunds are easiest to get.

Before you send, and when to escalate

Before you send

Cancel first and attach the confirmation. Never ask for a refund while the trial is still set to renew.
Use the exact merchant name and amount from your statement, since trial charges often appear under a parent company name.
Say plainly that you did not use the paid period. It is the strongest single fact in a trial dispute.
Send it within a few days of the charge and set a 5 business day deadline.
For App Store or Google Play subscriptions, send the request through Apple or Google instead of the app.

Escalate when

The merchant says trial charges are non-refundable but never showed the price or end date clearly at signup.
You canceled and were charged again, or the cancel button led to offers and loops instead of a confirmation.
Five business days have passed since your request with no reply, or only a partial credit was offered.

Common questions

Can I get a refund if I forgot to cancel my free trial?: Often yes, especially if you ask within a few days and did not use the paid period. Many merchants refund first-time trial conversions to avoid disputes, even when their terms say charges are non-refundable.
Are free trials that auto-charge legal?: Automatic conversion is allowed in the US, but under the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA), online sellers must clearly disclose the terms, get your express consent before charging, and give you a simple way to stop recurring charges. Many states add their own automatic renewal rules.
Can I dispute a free trial charge with my bank?: Yes. For credit cards, the Fair Credit Billing Act generally gives you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a billing error in writing. Contact the merchant first, then include your cancellation proof and their reply, or their silence, with the dispute.
What if I subscribed through the App Store or Google Play?: Then the charge came from Apple or Google, not the app. Request the refund through reportaproblem.apple.com or your Google Play order history. The app developer usually cannot refund store charges directly.
How do I stop the merchant from charging my card again?: Cancel in the account and keep the confirmation. If charges continue, ask your bank to block future payments to that merchant. For debit cards, you can stop preauthorized recurring payments by notifying your bank at least 3 business days before the next scheduled charge.