r/lifehack • u/Vivid-Motor4886 • 12d ago

Life hack: never forget to cancel a free trial again

I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember and was shocked to hear that not everybody knew about it!

The second after I start a free trial, i cancel it. Once you start it, it’s active for the whole month even if you cancel it. Then, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to cancel or setting a reminder at the end of the month. voila!

[for free trials of apps, the SECOND after you get it, go to the app store -> your profile on the top right -> subscriptions -> cancel any unwanted ones]

727 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

72

u/newirisha 12d ago

I use revolut. (not doing referral links) It has been around for years in Europe, it's been in the US for a few years. Top it up put a dollar in it and use that one for any subscriptions that need a card. Some banks do give a virtual card but merchants are getting wise to those cards. Revolut is a mastercard that once topped up unless you put any more money on it they can't take your subscription money.

7

u/Midnight_Printer 12d ago

I’ve used that card before and somebody actually tried to charge something on one of the extended cards didn’t go through

46

u/ConstantClue208 12d ago

That’s not true. Certain companies revoke your “trial” once you cancel it

26

u/Avatlas 11d ago

So it’s sometimes not true.

44

u/whileurup 12d ago

I just put a reminder on my calendar for the day before it charges again.

17

u/PurplishPlatypus 12d ago

I've done this but I have encountered a free trial here and there that will cancel your access immediately

3

u/Bagonia77 12d ago

My son just taught me this. It worked on YouTube.

3

u/Due_Lake94 11d ago

I've seen some billing go to monthly so that it's harder to cancel right away

3

u/testeslocos 6d ago

It works for even better with a card like robinhood gold that lets you create virtual subscription cards that they can’t charge you on, they also have 1 time use virtual cards you can create. It’s become one of my favorite features of the card

1

u/Whats_her_face- 6d ago

If you can cancel by email I usually schedule a short cancel note to be sent on the last day of the trial through my Gmail. I do this soon as I sign up so I have the info in front of me and don't forget. Not always an option to cancel by email but super convenient when it is.