Let’s face it, we live busy lives. I’m pretty sure that most companies are aware of this. I’m also pretty sure that that’s why many companies entice customers with trial periods. Think about it. How many times have you signed up for a service because it was free for 3 months, with the real intention of canceling said service at the end of the trial period, only to forget to call and actually cancel the service? Having figured out that many customers will forget to call and cancel, companies can afford these trial periods, banking on the busyness of the average consumer.
Personally, I’m very busy. So, when I’m offered a trial period, especially one that requires a phone call in order to cancel a service, I’m vary wary. In most cases, I simply decline the service. This is by far the easiest way to deal with most of these types of offers.
Once in a while, however, I’ll actually get an offer to try a service that I’m actually wanting to check out. For instance, I recently switched satellite television providers, and enjoyed three months of free premium movie channels. Just last night, I called my provider, just as the free trial period ran out, and canceled the channels. It was fun to have the channels, but I really do not need them.
If, like me, you struggle to stay organized, but you still want to take advantage of these trial periods, consider setting up a reminder system. Personally, I use the iCal program on my computer, and make a simple note, reminding myself of when to call and cancel a particular service. I also know folks who use websites like FutureMe, a website that will allow you to schedule a reminder email, and send it to yourself at a specific time in the future. Pretty rad.
Remember, before signing up for any free trial period, be sure that you know exactly how to cancel the service. This is especially true for services offered by credit card companies and credit reporting services. Taking the time once a month to take care of these pesky little phone calls can, in the long-term, save you a lot of money.
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