I was trying to sign up for the YouTube Premium free trial today, and I double-checked to make sure I was eligible since I tend to be a little anxious about subscriptions. However, right after I clicked the sign-up button, I got a notification from my bank that Apple attempted to charge me $16.99, but it failed because I didn't have enough money in my account. I checked my settings and YouTube app, and there are no active subscriptions at all—just the option to start the free trial again.
Now, I'm really puzzled and concerned that Apple might try to charge me again when my balance is sufficient, especially since my mom keeps insisting I check into it. Has anyone else experienced this? Could Apple really charge me for a subscription that I haven't even activated? And why would a free trial attempt to charge me right away?
4 Answers
Was it just a pre-authorization hold instead of a charge? Sometimes they temporarily hold funds to verify your payment method. I suggest contacting Apple anyway to be sure—if you're still worried about being charged later, you could consider using a different account just for subscriptions.
If you've ever used a free trial before, that might be why you're seeing a charge attempt. In case you've subscribed via Apple or directly through YouTube, sometimes they're not linked well enough to show eligibility. You could be ineligible without knowing it. Have you done a free trial in the past?
If you signed up through an ad in the YouTube app, it could lead to confusion—Apple might not alert you if you’re ineligible for a free trial due to previous subscriptions. It's worth checking your purchase history; if it doesn’t appear there, you might want to reach out to Apple support for clarification.
When I subscribed, I clicked on the ad that popped up while watching videos. I definitely got notifications from Apple.
Same thing happened to me. If you aren't eligible for a trial, they shouldn't let you sign up. I applied for a refund after my charge went through, just to be safe. It's annoying, but it seems to be a common mix-up with these promotions.
That really is a hassle! Unfortunately, companies sometimes don't inform you ahead of time about eligibility, leading to unexpected charges.
Nope, I've never had a free trial before.