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The Daily Insight Hub

Is it illegal to keep getting free trials?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on February 19, 2026

It’s not against the law, but companies that offer free trials very likely have taken safeguards against people who will attempt to get more than one free trial. Clearly, the intention is to give you a ‘taste’ for free (you know, like the drug dealers give you to get you hooked), but after that, you must pay the man.

Why do you have to enter a credit card for free trials?

“Free” trials require credit cards because they want the trial to lead to the subscription, which will be automatic unless you take action to discontinue. Many people don’t pay close enough attention to cancel it early enough, so the company gets some money from you.

Can you trust free trials?

While offering a free trial of a product or service is perfectly legal, consumers should still be wary. The fine print of those offers end up costing consumers hundreds of dollars. It’s important to understand how free trial offers work so you can avoid feeling scammed by less than honest business practices.

What happens when you get a free trial?

1. If you don’t cancel on time, you’ll be charged. Usually, you have to give your credit card number for a “free trial.” That way, the company can charge you if you don’t cancel before the trial period ends.

Can you go to jail for making a fake email?

Jail or prison. A phishing conviction can easily result in a year or more in prison if you’re convicted of a felony. Laws differ widely, but penalties of up to five years in prison are possible with felony convictions. Misdemeanor convictions can result in up to a year in jail.

What free trials can I get?

13 subscription services you can try right now for free

  • Netflix — 30-day free trial.
  • Amazon Video — 30-day free trial, 6 months for students.
  • Hulu — 7-day free trial.
  • HBO Now — 30-day free trial.
  • Sling TV — 7-day free trial.
  • PlayStation Vue — 7-day free trial.
  • YouTube Red — 30-day free trial.

Why did Netflix charge me for my free trial?

When you signed up for a free trial of Netflix, you were required to put in a credit or debit card for billing purposes. Since you did not cancel before the trial ended, you were charged for your first month of Netflix subscription.

Do you need a credit card for Amazon Prime free trial?

Amazon Prime Free Trial members enjoy all the same benefits as paid members. If you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months, you can sign up for a free trial. To sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial, your account must have a current, valid credit card.

What things offer free trials?

All about Free Trials

  • Philo TV – 7 Days.
  • Shudder Horror Streaming – 7 Days.
  • Audioboks.com – 2 Books.
  • Tidal Music – 30 Days.
  • ABCmouse Kids education – 30 Days.
  • Gamefly game streaming – 30 Days.
  • Amazon Music Unlimited – 30 Days.
  • Curiosity Stream, Documentaries – 7 Days.

What happens after a free trial ends?

If you haven’t chosen a pricing plan before your free trial ends, then your account will be frozen at the end date of the free trial month. If you have chosen a pricing plan before the end of your free trial, then your free trial period will be stopped and automatically continued with the subscription plan purchased.

Do you need a credit card to cancel a free trial?

You’ll probably have to provide a credit card number, which will eventually get charged if you forget to cancel your service — which is likely. There are several sites that offer “fake” credit card numbers for people who just want to sign up for free trials online or receive samples without providing any real payment information.

Why do some free trials require credit card information?

The following list details some reasons companies typically give for requiring credit or debit card info before starting a free trial: “To activate your free trial.” “To authenticate your account.” “To prevent service abuse.”

What happens when you do a free trial on Coursera?

After providing your credit card information to start a free trial, you might see a $0 or $1 test or authorization charge. This is used by our payment processor to make sure that your credit card can be charged. The test charge will be refunded or voided automatically.

Why do people ask for billing information on free trial?

These people have no intention to purchase anything, no matter how the trial period went. The company sees them as people who consume vital resources with no real chance of converting them into actual customers. Asking for billing information is a tactic they use to scare away this type of audience from their services.