Streaming and subscriptionsArticle 3 of 7 · 2 min read
Managing subscriptions and free trials, and your cancellation rights
How to sign up for subscriptions and free trials in Spain without surprise charges, how to keep track of trial end dates, and what to do when you want to cancel. For newcomers who use streaming, apps or gym memberships.
Key rules
- Trial end date: Note the end date of every free trial the day you start it.
- Cancelling: Cancel before the trial ends and keep proof of cancellation.
- Unexpected charges: Contact the company first, then your bank, then your town hall's consumer office.
Check with your town hall's consumer office what the rules currently require on auto-renewing trials, same-channel cancellation and withdrawal rights for streaming.
The bottom line
Spanish and EU rules give you rights to withdraw from and cancel subscriptions. Cancelling should be as easy as signing up. Your job is to know when each trial ends, so a free trial never turns into a paid plan by accident.
Before you sign up
- Read the price and the billing period on the last screen, not only the offer banner.
- Look for words like "renews automatically" or "after the trial, you will be charged". These tell you the trial converts to a paid plan.
- Use a payment card you can block or limit if a charge appears that you did not agree to.
- Take a screenshot of the offer and the confirmation email. You may need them in a dispute.
Track your trials and renewals
Set a reminder the moment you start a trial. Put the end date in your phone calendar, with an alert two or three days before. Keep one note or spreadsheet listing each service, the price, the renewal date and how you cancel. Check your bank statements monthly for charges you do not recognise.
Cancelling
Cancel before the trial ends, not on the last day. Use the account settings first, and keep proof: a confirmation screen, an email or a reference number. If the company only offers a phone call or a postal address to cancel, say that you want to cancel in writing and keep a copy.
Rules on how a company must tell you about auto-renewing trials, whether you must be able to cancel through the same channel you signed up with, and whether the 14-day withdrawal right applies to a streaming subscription are not settled on this page. Check them with your town hall's consumer office (OMIC) before relying on them.
If you are charged after cancelling
- Write to the company with your proof of cancellation and ask for a refund.
- If they do not answer, ask your bank about disputing the charge.
- Take the case to your town hall's consumer office, which can guide you on a formal complaint.
More in Streaming and subscriptions
- Streaming and TV in Spain: platforms, free channels and football
- Using Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other home services in Spain
- Unexpected or unauthorised subscription charges: what to do
- Family plans, household rules and Spanish prices for subscriptions
- Cancelling memberships and subscriptions when you leave or move within Spain
- Finding content in your language: dubbing, subtitles, e-books and libraries
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.