You signed up for a free trial.
You were sure you still had time.
Then a charge appears.
You check the calendar.
The date doesn’t match what you remembered.
This usually happens because the trial end time is not the same as the signup date.
Why the Date Feels Wrong
- The trial ends at a specific hour, not the full day
- The end date is based on the original signup timestamp
- Time zones can shift the visible end date
- The service switches to paid mode immediately at expiration
Many users assume a “7-day trial” means seven full days.
In reality, it often means 168 hours from the moment you signed up.
Where the Confusion Starts
- The end date is shown in small text
- No reminder is sent before expiration
- The app shows “trial active” until the exact cutoff
- The charge posts after midnight, making it feel early
What This Is Usually Not
- Not an early charge
- Not a billing error
- Not a failed cancellation
The payment is triggered automatically the moment the trial expires.
If the cancellation happens even minutes late, the charge still goes through.
This issue is almost always caused by time interpretation, not system failure.