Why do free trials ask for your card?
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The Trick: Why does a "free" trial ask for your credit card up front?
The company profits when you forget to cancel. Card-up-front trials turn silent forgetters into paying customers. Under the federal ROSCA law, the FTC requires clear terms and a simple way to cancel; Amazon paid $2.5 billion in 2025 over Prime sign-ups and cancellation. Source: FTC – $2.5 billion Amazon settlement under ROSCA (Sept 2025)
Why It Works: Why do so many people end up paying?
Doing nothing is the default, and the default wins. Inertia: staying subscribed requires zero action, cancelling requires effort and memory. Source: Wikipedia – Default effect
How to Spot It: What's the tell of a trial built to trap you?
Card required, no reminder before billing, and cancel only by phone. Fair trials remind you before charging and let you cancel the way you signed up. Missing either is a red flag. Source: Wikipedia – Dark pattern