The free trial that was not free
In August you started a free trial of an app you needed for one school project, using the card your dad added to the family account. You forgot about it. It is now October and he has noticed two charges of $14.99. He is not angry, but he wants to know what happened and whether it will keep happening.
What could you do?
Pick a response to see how it usually plays out.
The general principles
- Contracts signed by minors are generally voidable by the minor, but that does not stop a recurring charge on its own.
- The adult whose payment method is on file is normally responsible for charges already made.
- Consumer-protection rules generally require recurring charges to be disclosed clearly before you agree.
Safer next steps
- Cancel today, before working out who owes what.
- Screenshot the confirmation and the date.
- Email the company asking for a refund of unused time; keep it short and factual.
- Tell the adult whose card it is the same day, with what you have already done.
Automatic-renewal and cancellation requirements vary by state, and some states have stronger rules than the federal baseline.
Telling the adult early, with the cancellation already done, changes this from a trust problem into an admin problem. If a company will not let you cancel, your state consumer protection office and the CFPB both take complaints.
Support you can reach
- LawHelp.org (opens in a new tab)
Directory that finds free legal aid programs in your state for housing, family, school, work, and more.
- Common Sense Media (opens in a new tab)
Independent reviews and guidance on apps, games, and media, including privacy ratings families can use.
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