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Free Trial Charged Me Without Permission — What Now

Use the free tool — Subscription Cancel Letter

What's happening

A "free trial" turned into a real charge. Or an app, gym, alarm system, streaming service, or magazine keeps billing you and won't let you cancel. This page explains the Florida and federal rules that may apply, the written notice to send, when a refund is reasonable, and how to dispute the charge with your card if the company ignores you.

This is general information, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. Confirm anything important with a professional or with the agency involved.

The rules that may apply

• Under Fla. Stat. 501.165, a Florida company must disclose the renewal terms of an automatically renewing contract clearly, and for contracts of 12 months or longer that renew for more than a month, it must send written notice 30–60 days before the cancellation deadline.
• If this is a gym membership, Fla. Stat. 501.017 (the Health Studio Act) gives you the right to cancel — including if you move more than 25 miles from the studio with no comparable facility nearby, on disability, or on death — with a refund of the unused portion.
• Under federal rules on "negative option" and free-trial marketing, sellers must disclose terms clearly and offer a simple way to cancel. You can report a free-trial trap or a subscription that's hard to cancel to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting can help others, but it doesn't guarantee the FTC will act on your case.

Read your own contract's cancellation clause before you rely on any of this — it may state its own notice period or fee.

Send a written cancellation notice

A written notice should include:

• Your account information
• The date you want the cancellation to take effect
• The cancellation right you're relying on (for example, Fla. Stat. 501.165 or 501.017)
• A request for written confirmation within 10 days
• A statement that you will dispute any further charges

Send it by email and mail with tracking, or by whatever method your contract names. Keep copies of everything. Don't cancel your card as your only step — an unpaid balance can still go to collections.

If you're acting for a parent or someone else who can't manage the account, say so in the notice, and check whether you need a power of attorney or the account holder's signature.

Is a refund reasonable to ask for?

• Yes — for charges made after a valid cancellation.
• Yes — for the unused portion, under the Health Studio Act, if it applies to you.
• Yes — if a free trial converted to a paid charge without clear disclosure.
• No — for months you actually used the service.

If they keep charging you

You can dispute charges made after your cancellation date directly with your card issuer:

• For credit cards, the Fair Credit Billing Act generally gives you 60 days from the statement to dispute a charge.
• For debit cards, Regulation E covers disputes — timing rules are different, so confirm with your card issuer.
• Attach your cancellation notice and any confirmation. Only dispute charges from after you cancelled — not charges for service you actually used.

You can also file a complaint with Florida's consumer line, 1-800-HELP-FLA, through FDACS Consumer Services, and report the company to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What to do next

Subscription Cancel Letter reads your own charge and what you've already tried, and gives you a written cancellation notice, the rule that appears to apply, a refund ask if reasonable, and the chargeback steps — in English or Spanish. Nothing you paste is stored. It is not legal advice and it can be wrong: read your contract's cancellation clause, and for a long-term contract with a large early-termination fee, talk to a consumer attorney or call 1-800-HELP-FLA first.

Subscription Cancel Letter explains Florida and federal cancellation rules in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. Chargeback rights depend on your card agreement and federal law — confirm with your card issuer. Nothing you paste is stored.