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Recurring Charges Online: A Before-Checkout Subscription Terms Checklist

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The short answer

Before you enter a card number, find four things on the offer page or in its terms: how often you will be billed and how much, when any free trial ends, exactly how to cancel, and what proof you should save. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that if you cannot find this information or do not understand what you are agreeing to, it might be a sign the company will make cancellations difficult, and you should not sign up.

Independent publication notice: MeridianMedicalCentre.com is an independent consumer health research publication. It is not a medical practice, clinic, or healthcare provider, and it is not affiliated with Meridian Health Group or any medical practice. See our Non-Affiliation Notice. Nothing here is medical, legal, or financial advice.

Why the fine print matters

The FTC explains that for a free trial you usually have to give a card number, so the company can charge you if you do not cancel before the trial ends. It describes this as a “negative option”: the business treats your silence as permission to keep billing you. Problems arise when the business does not clearly explain that it will keep billing you unless you act, or when it makes canceling hard. (Source: FTC, Getting In and Out of Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions.)

The FTC notes that subscription offers can be for anything from beauty creams and dietary supplements to snacks and magazines, so this checklist applies to any online purchase that repeats.

The save-before-you-buy checklist

Work through these five groups before you check out. Copy the answers into a note, or save screenshots, before you pay.

1. Price and billing interval

  • What is the first charge, and what is each charge after that?
  • How often are you billed: weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly?
  • Is there a promotional rate, and what does the price become when it ends? The FTC notes that an automatic renewal can cost more than you paid before, for example after a promotional rate.
  • Do you have to pay shipping or fees for a “free” trial? The FTC says that if you do, it is not really free.

2. Trial end date and renewal date

  • What is the exact length of the trial, and on what date and time does it end?
  • What is the last day you can cancel to avoid the first charge?
  • Put a reminder in your calendar. The FTC advises marking your calendar to cancel before the trial ends.
  • Look for pre-checked boxes. The FTC warns that a box already checked for you may give permission for ongoing charges, extra products, or sharing your information. Uncheck anything you do not agree to.

3. Cancellation channel

  • Where and how do you cancel: an account page, an email address, a phone number, or a written request?
  • Can you skip or change shipments without fully canceling? Is there a time limit to respond?
  • The FTC's page states that businesses must tell you how to cancel before they get your card information and must make canceling simple. It adds that if it is not clear how to cancel, you should walk away. We have not independently verified the current legal requirements, which can vary, so treat the FTC's advice as a practical test of any seller.

4. Confirmation and proof to save

  • Save the order confirmation and the terms as they read on the day you buy, because pages can change later.
  • Following the FTC's online shopping guidance, keep the company name and website; what you ordered, the date, and what you paid; the seller's return policy; and all emails, texts, and other communication with the company.
  • Keep the card or bank statements that show what you were charged.
  • If you cancel later, the FTC advises keeping a copy of the cancellation request and notes on any conversations about canceling.

5. Support contact

  • Record the seller's support email, phone number, or contact form, and note whether they are easy to find before you buy.
  • The FTC suggests searching the company name with the word “complaint” or “scam” and comparing reviews from a range of sites rather than relying on star ratings alone.

After you buy

  • Watch your statements. The FTC advises checking card and bank statements so you spot charges you did not order.
  • Check renewal notices carefully. The FTC says that if you already agreed to auto-renew, a renewal notice is a reminder rather than a bill, so it should not ask for your card information. Fake renewal notices exist. If you get one for a subscription you do not have, do not click links or call the number in it. Contact the company at a number you know is correct.
  • If you are charged without your consent and the company will not refund you, the FTC says to dispute the charge with your credit or debit card company right away. Its shopping guidance adds that for billing errors on a credit card, such as being charged twice, you should call immediately and send a letter that reaches the card company within 60 days of the day it mailed the first bill showing the error.
  • Report problems. The FTC directs people to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to their state attorney general.

Limits of this checklist

  • This is general consumer information, not legal or financial advice, and we are not lawyers or financial advisors. Your rights can depend on where you live, how you paid, and the seller's own terms.
  • Seller terms, prices, and cancellation options change. Read the current terms on the seller's own site on the day you buy. Nothing here describes any specific company's terms.
  • The FTC guidance cited here is general advice, not a guarantee about any particular seller.

When to get professional advice

  • Stopping a subscription is not the same as stopping a treatment. If the recurring charge is for a prescription medication or a telehealth program, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before you stop taking anything. Canceling billing does not change your medical plan.
  • If you have a billing dispute you cannot resolve, your card company, a consumer protection agency, or a licensed attorney can advise on your situation.

What to do next

  1. Before your next online purchase, fill in the five checklist groups above.
  2. Set a calendar reminder before any trial ends.
  3. Review one recent card statement for recurring charges you do not recognize.

This checklist is useful whether or not you buy anything. For more evaluation frameworks, see our Consumer Guides. Read our Medical Disclaimer for the limits of this site's content.

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