When you offer a free trial of one of your business products or services, it’s important to comply with applicable laws. Because the failure to do so can result in losing your merchant accounts, being ordered to issue refunds, paying fines, and even being banned from marketing. That’s in addition to your legal fees dealing with the mess.
Here are some general guidelines to help you avoid breaking the law with your free trial offers.
- The terms and conditions of the offer should be clear and concise. No weasel words or fine print designed to deceive.
- Don’t secretly charge the customer for the cost of the free trial on the back end.
- If your back end to the free trial is negative option continuity, get explicit affirmative customer consent to the continuity plan.
- Make it simple for customers to cancel, ideally offering multiple ways to do so (phone, email, etc.).
- Send out reminder notices before a free trial period ends or a renewal occurs.
An experienced marketing lawyer can help you craft a free trial offer that contains little risk while remaining profitable. Remember, no one likes to be tricked. And that includes your customers. If you need legal help putting together a free trial offer, schedule a phone consultation with Attorney Mike Young.