![\"Tennessee](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/tennessee-division-of-consumer-affairs.gif\" "\\"Tennessee")
Nashville, TN <\/strong>– The option to \u201ctry before your buy\u201d when looking for a product or service can be enticing, but the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance\u2019s (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division is advising consumers to approach free trial offers with caution.<\/p>\nWhile there are many reputable companies offering free trials, some use these offers as a way to sign you up for more products\u2014even if you don\u2019t want them. These subscriptions can end up costing hundreds of dollars before the consumer realizes their accounts have been debited.<\/p>\n
Unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of consumers by making it hard to cancel, by hiding the terms and conditions, pre-checking sign-up boxes during the initial order, or by making their cancellation terms so strict that it is next to impossible to stop the deliveries and billing.<\/p>\n Other scammers take advantage of consumers by charging a seemingly low \u201cshipping and handling fee\u201d. While you think you\u2019re getting a product by paying only a few dollars in shipping and handling costs, the scammers now have your bank information and continue to charge you after the trial ends.<\/p>\n \u201cTrial offers can be a great way for consumers to test a product or service before they buy, but they are also an easy way for scammers to take advantage of consumers,\u201d said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. \u201cWe encourage Tennesseans to do their research before signing up for free trials to avoid falling victim to scammers.\u201d<\/p>\n To help consumers avoid hidden costs associated with free trial subscriptions, TDCI\u2019s Division of Consumer Affairs shares the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):<\/p>\n For more information on being a savvy consumer, visit tn.gov\/consumer<\/a>. More information on subscription scams can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [320center]<\/p>\n T<\/em>DCI protects the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the State Fire Marshal\u2019s Office, Insurance, Securities, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Regulatory Boards, Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, Tennessee Corrections Institute, and TennCare Oversight.<\/p>\n![\"Scams\"](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Scams.jpg\" "\\"Scams\\"")
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\n<\/strong>Read reviews to see what other people are saying about the company. Complaints from other consumers can tip you off to \u201ccatches\u201d that might come with the trial.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Carefully read the terms and conditions for all types of offers\u2014online, TV, newspaper, or radio. If you can\u2019t find them or can\u2019t understand exactly what you\u2019re agreeing to, don\u2019t sign up.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Just because you were on a webpage of a well-known business doesn\u2019t mean the offer or pop-up is from them. Double-check the URL and ensure the offer is from who you think it is. If a product claims to be endorsed by a celebrity, verify the endorsement from the celebrity\u2019s official website or social media account.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>If you sign-up for a free trial online, look for boxes that have been automatically checked. These checkmarks could give the company authority to continue the offer past the free trial or could sign you up for more products\u2014only this time you will have to pay.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Many free trials have a time limit. Once it passes without you telling the company to cancel your \u201corder\u201d, you may be on the hook for more products.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s important to know how to cancel the subscription if you decide you no longer want the product or service.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Keeping track of your credit and debit card statements can provide you with an early warning if you are being charged for something you didn\u2019t want or didn\u2019t order. If you see charges you didn’t agree to, contact the company directly to sort out the situation. If that doesn’t work, call your credit card company to dispute the charge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAbout the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance<\/h3>\n