Many users assume trial notifications are always sent to their primary email.
However, subscription alerts are delivered to the email linked to the billing or signup account — which may differ from the one you actively use.
If you were charged without seeing a trial reminder, the notification may have been sent to another registered address.
Why Trial Emails Go To A Different Address
Trial notifications are routed based on account registration data, not login preference.
- Email used during initial signup
- Apple ID or Google account email
- Third-party payment provider address
- Legacy or outdated account emails
- Typo errors during registration
Even if you changed your contact email later, billing alerts may still go to the original address.
How This Leads To Unexpected Charges
When alerts are sent elsewhere:
- You never see the expiration warning
- Cancellation deadlines pass unnoticed
- The trial converts automatically
- Billing processes as scheduled
The system records the notification as successfully delivered.
How To Verify Where Notifications Were Sent
You can confirm delivery routing by checking:
- Account profile email settings
- Subscription billing dashboards
- App store account details
- Payment processor records
This reveals which email received the trial notice.
Can You Request A Refund?
Refunds depend on platform policy but may be approved if:
- The charge is recent
- No service usage occurred
- This is your first renewal
Support may treat wrong-email notification cases as accidental renewals.
How To Prevent Future Notification Issues
To avoid missing alerts:
- Update account email addresses
- Sync billing and contact emails
- Monitor subscription dashboards
- Cancel trials early if unsure
Accurate email routing is critical for receiving trial expiration alerts.