A company advertised a 'free trial' but charged me after without clear notice. Is this allowed?

What the Law Says

EU law strictly regulates 'free trial' offers to prevent misleading consumers about costs.

Under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), a practice is unfair if it 'materially distorts or is likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer' — including hiding automatic charges after a free trial.

The Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) requires traders to provide clear, comprehensible pre-contractual information, including 'the total price of the goods or services, including taxes', and 'any additional costs' — especially where a contract renews automatically.

Crucially, Article 6(1)(k) of Directive 2011/83/EU mandates that traders disclose 'the existence and the conditions of any right of withdrawal' — and under Article 9, consumers must be given at least 14 days to withdraw from distance contracts without giving a reason.

Statutory Text

a commercial practice is unfair if it… materially distorts or is likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer

— Directive 2005/29/EC, Art. 5(2)(a)

Statutory Text

the trader shall provide the consumer with the following information… (k) the existence and the conditions of any right of withdrawal

— Directive 2011/83/EU, Art. 6(1)(k)

Statutory Text

the consumer shall have a period of 14 days in which to exercise the right of withdrawal

— Directive 2011/83/EU, Art. 9(1)

Sources