# Requirements for subscriptions and trials

To promote an enhanced and transparent customer experience, card schemes have set disclosure requirements for when you offer cardholders subscriptions or free trial periods.

---

## General disclosure requirements

### 1. Consent

The cardholder must expressly consent to sign up for the subscription and payment.

### 2. Notification

When signing up for the subscription, you must share terms and conditions with cardholders, which must include:

- The start date
- The details of goods or services
- The transaction amount
- The billing frequency and date
- A mechanism to cancel

In the European Economic Area (EEA), you must provide this notification within two business days of setting up the agreement.

### 3. Reminder notification

For trial periods, you must notify the cardholder at least seven days before the trial or introductory offer ends, and give them the option to cancel.

For subscriptions where the billing frequency is every six months or more, you must remind cardholders at least seven days before the next billing date. The reminder must include the subscription terms, and clear instructions on how to cancel.

### 4. Transaction receipts or confirmation

After each successful authorization, you must send cardholders a receipt or confirmation stating the transaction amount, transaction date, and instructions on how to cancel.

For trial periods, confirmation must include the length of the trial/introductory offer and clearly state that, after the trial, the cardholder will be charged unless they cancel the subscription.

### 5. Statement descriptor

A descriptor indicating the end of a trial period is recommended in the _Merchant Name_ field for the first financial transaction. For example, 'end trial'. [Learn more about dynamic descriptors](https://www.checkout.com/docs/payments/manage-payments/manage-billing-descriptors.md#Configure_a_dynamic_billing_descriptor).

### 6. Cancellation

Cardholders must have an easy way to cancel a subscription, and you must disclose this when they sign up for the subscription.

---

## EU disclosure requirements

In addition to the general requirements, merchants in Europe must also meet specific requirements.

You must provide the cardholder with the following information:

- Your name as the merchant
- The amount of the transaction (even if it is zero), and the amount and timing of any subsequent recurring transactions
- The length of any trial period, introductory offer, or promotional period
- How the cardholder will be charged, including the last four digits of the card number
- How to cancel the agreement and/or any subsequent recurring transactions

You must display this required information to cardholders in both of the following places:

- The webpage where payment credentials are requested and entered
- The checkout webpage

Additionally, you must:

- Provide subscription notification within two working days of setting up the agreement.
- For unscheduled payments, notify the cardholder of any change to the transaction amount, or any other terms of the agreement, at least two working days before the change.

> **Information**
>
> This reflects the [EU regulation on consumer rights and complaints](https://commission.europa.eu/live-work-travel-eu/consumer-rights-and-complaints/enforcement-consumer-protection/coordinated-actions/consumer-frequent-traps-and-scams_en).