Recurring charges can be easy to ignore, and recent research suggests forgotten subscriptions are costing consumers hundreds of dollars a year.
Free Trials That Quietly Become Paid Plans
That “free” seven-day trial can become a monthly bill if it isn’t canceled in time. The FTC says it receives thousands of complaints about recurring-payment practices every year, with nearly 70 complaints per day in 2024, up from 42 per day in 2021.
Ghost Subscriptions Nobody Remembers
More than 40% of Americans reportedly pay for at least one subscription they forgot about, with those forgotten charges averaging about $17 a month—more than $200 a year. That’s money disappearing without a single new purchase.
Annual Plans That Suddenly Renew
An annual subscription can be easy to forget because the charge happens only once a year. The FTC specifically warns that renewal prices can be higher than the original promotional rate, turning a subscription that once seemed cheap into an unexpected larger charge.
Price Hikes That Stay on Autopilot
A subscription can become more expensive without becoming more noticeable. The FTC says consumers should check renewal notices because automatic renewals sometimes charge more than the previous rate.
“Cheap” Offers With Expensive Recurring Charges
A $1 or $5 introductory price can make a service look almost free until the recurring charge appears. In a 2026 case, the FTC alleged JustAnswer advertised prices as low as $1 or $5 while enrolling customers in monthly subscriptions costing $28 to $125.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission — recurring subscriptions and auto-renewals
- CNBC Select — 2026 subscription tracker research and “ghost subscription” data
- Federal Trade Commission — 2026 JustAnswer subscription case
- AARP — hidden recurring expenses and money leaks