How to Get a Subscription Refund After a Free Trial in the US

Free trials that quietly flip into paid subscriptions are a classic trap. The good news is you have real leverage. Federal law and most states require companies to clearly disclose that a trial converts to a paid plan and to make cancellation straightforward. When a company hides the renewal or makes it hard to cancel, that's a deceptive practice, and the charge is squarely disputable. This guide shows you how to ask the company for a refund first, then how to use your card's chargeback rights if they won't play ball. You handle it yourself and keep all of it.

Reviewed by Corey Musa, Founder·Last reviewed June 2026·LinkedIn

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Your rights

The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA, 15 USC 8401-8405) requires online sellers using free trials and auto-renewals to clearly disclose all material terms before charging you, get your informed consent, and provide a simple way to stop recurring charges. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair and deceptive practices, which covers hidden or misleading trial-to-paid conversions. Many states add their own automatic renewal laws with stronger rules, such as California and Minnesota, which require clear renewal disclosures and easy cancellation. Note: the FTC's broader 'Click-to-Cancel' Negative Option Rule was vacated by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in July 2025, so rely on ROSCA, the FTC Act, and your state's law rather than that specific rule. If a charge was misleading or you can't cancel as easily as you signed up, you also have the right to dispute it with your card issuer.

Step by step

1Gather the evidence. Save the charge (date and amount), the original trial offer or signup screen, any confirmation email, and screenshots showing the renewal terms were unclear or that cancellation was hard to find. This is what proves the company didn't meet ROSCA's disclosure and easy-cancellation requirements.
2Cancel the subscription immediately so it can't bill you again, then email or message the company asking for a refund of the trial-conversion charge. State that the renewal terms weren't clearly disclosed and consent wasn't properly obtained under ROSCA and your state's automatic renewal law.
3If they refuse or ignore you, dispute the charge with your bank or card issuer. Call the number on your card or use the app, explain it was a misleading auto-renewal after a free trial, and request a chargeback. Provide your screenshots and the cancellation record.
4If the company is part of a wider pattern, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general's consumer protection office. This won't always get you a direct refund, but it adds pressure and supports your chargeback.

What they'll say, and your comeback

“You agreed to the terms when you signed up for the trial.”

Comeback, Burying renewal terms in fine print doesn't meet ROSCA, which requires clear, conspicuous disclosure of the conversion and price before billing. If the trial-to-paid terms weren't presented clearly and separately, consent wasn't properly obtained, so I'm entitled to a refund.

“All sales are final and we don't give refunds.”

Comeback, A blanket no-refund policy doesn't override federal and state law on deceptive auto-renewals. If the charge resulted from an unclear trial conversion, the policy doesn't apply. I'll dispute the charge with my card issuer if this isn't refunded.

“You had to cancel before the trial ended and you didn't.”

Comeback, If cancelling wasn't as easy as signing up, or the deadline wasn't clearly disclosed up front, that's exactly the problem ROSCA addresses. Please refund the charge, or I'll pursue a chargeback and report the practice to the FTC.

FAQ

How long do I have to dispute the charge with my card issuer?

For credit cards, the Fair Credit Billing Act gives you 60 days from the statement that shows the charge to dispute a billing error in writing. Debit card chargeback windows vary by network and bank, so act quickly. The sooner you dispute, the stronger your position.

Can the company keep billing me after I dispute?

Cancel the subscription directly so future charges stop, then dispute the charge that already hit. If they bill you again after you've cancelled, that's a separate unauthorized charge you can also dispute and report.

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A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice.