A "free trial" auto-charged me — can I reverse it?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Often yes, if you never clearly agreed to the paid conversion. A charge is only valid with your consent (Civil Code Art. 1318), and if the trial's automatic roll-over to a paid plan was not clearly and conspicuously disclosed and agreed, the charge is contestable. RA 11765 requires financial providers to deal fairly and disclose terms, and misleading "free" offers can be deceptive sales acts under the Consumer Act (RA 7394). Cancel immediately, demand a refund from the merchant, and if paid by card dispute it with your issuer; money taken without a right to demand it must be returned under Civil Code Art. 2154 (solutio indebiti).
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Frequently asked
They say I agreed to the terms — does that end it?
Not necessarily. Consent must be genuine and the paid-conversion term must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed, not buried. If the "free" framing was misleading or the auto-charge was hidden, you can argue the charge lacked valid consent and dispute it; keep the sign-up screenshots.
How do I reverse the charge on a card?
Cancel the subscription, demand a refund from the merchant in writing, and file a dispute/chargeback with your card issuer promptly, explaining the trial was not meant to convert or the terms were not disclosed. Provide your evidence of the offer as presented to you.
What if the merchant refuses and it wasn't a card?
Money paid by mistake or without a right to demand it is recoverable under solutio indebiti (Art. 2154). Send a written demand; for amounts up to ₱1,000,000 you can pursue small claims, and you can also report unfair practices to the DTI or BSP as applicable.
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