You canceled your free trial on the final day, assuming that was early enough. The cancellation went through, no errors appeared, and nothing suggested a charge would follow. Yet the payment still happened.
This situation is extremely common. The issue is rarely a failed cancellation. It usually comes down to how services define the exact cutoff moment for free trials.
“The last day” does not mean the last hour.
Why Canceling on the Final Day Can Still Trigger a Charge
- The free trial expires at a specific hour, not at midnight
- Billing cutoffs follow the platform’s system time zone
- The trial converts automatically before the calendar day ends
- Cancellation is recorded after the cutoff timestamp
- Authorization may occur before the cancellation is finalized
How to Confirm Whether the Charge Was Valid
- Check the exact trial expiration time in your account
- Compare the cancellation timestamp with the cutoff hour
- Review confirmation emails for precise timing
- Verify which platform handled billing (app store or website)
What to Do After a Same-Day Charge
- Do not cancel again unless a new billing cycle appears
- Save screenshots showing cancellation time and status
- Check refund eligibility for last-day cancellations
- Contact support only after confirming all timestamps
Free trials are governed by strict cutoff rules that are rarely explained clearly. Understanding those limits is the key to avoiding unexpected charges.