Individual HTML example · Sneaking

Free trial converts to an annual charge

A fictional fitness app promotes seven free days but places the $240 annual conversion, date and cancellation route only inside a remote terms link.

Subscription traps and automatic renewalFitness app signupSubscription

This is an original fictional comparison. It depicts no real business and is not a regulator finding, statutory category or legal safe harbour.

Fitness app signupSubscription

Free trial converts to an annual charge

A fictional fitness app promotes seven free days but places the $240 annual conversion, date and cancellation route only inside a remote terms link.

Potentially problematicStart 7 days free
Neutral alternativeStart 7-day trial

Why the first version can mislead: The final commercial state diverges from the choice represented earlier in the journey. The problematic state records: “Annual conversion details are hidden in a remote document.” Review the timing and affirmative selection needed before “$0 today” changes price, product or recurring liability. A user may enter a large recurring liability without understanding the conversion.

What a fairer design does: State the later price, billing period, conversion date and exit method beside the trial action and in confirmation.

Show annotated differences (4)
Potentially problematic version
  • Annual conversion details are hidden in a remote document.Why this state matters: The final commercial state diverges from the choice represented earlier in the journey. The problematic state records: “Annual conversion details are hidden in a remote document.” Review the timing and affirmative selection needed before “$0 today” changes price, product or recurring liability. A user may enter a large recurring liability without understanding the conversion.
  • Review recurring termsReview prompt: Which affirmative action authorises “$0 today”, and where is the resulting price, product or recurring state shown before commitment?
Neutral alternative
  • $240 per year from 18 September until cancelled online.Fairer design: State the later price, billing period, conversion date and exit method beside the trial action and in confirmation.
  • Price, period and commitment, expanded: The price and material terms associated with “Review recurring terms” remain beside this choice.Review prompt: Place the compared prices, billing periods and material terms on one evidence sheet; where does it support “The offer creates a subscription, renewal or recurring liability”?
Review questions (3)
  • Which affirmative action authorises “$0 today”, and where is the resulting price, product or recurring state shown before commitment?
  • Place the compared prices, billing periods and material terms on one evidence sheet; where does it support “The offer creates a subscription, renewal or recurring liability”?
  • Which specific affirmative event creates the final commercial state, and could “Recurring terms clearly and prominently disclosed before assent” explain the observed outcome instead?
Side-by-side fitness app signup interface showing “Start 7 days free” and the clearer alternative “Start 7-day trial”.Provenance: Original hypothetical fitness app signup example created for this library; no real business, product or interface is depicted.

Complete practice context

How this example relates to Subscription traps and automatic renewal

A transaction creates or continues recurring liability without effective, timely disclosure of the subscription, renewal and exit consequences. This is a design and research taxonomy for learning and evidence review, not a statutory offence label or an automatic finding that an interface is unlawful.

The full guide explains inclusion and exclusion criteria, potential harms, fairer design, evidence questions and separate Australian legal information layers. The example page isolates one scenario so it can be shared and discussed without reproducing the complete library on one page.

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Sources and provenance for this example

Evidence base

Sources

  1. Dark commercial patternsOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development · Secondary · checked 2026-09-14 · OECD Digital Economy Papers No. 336
  2. Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Act 2026Federal Register of Legislation · Primary · checked 2026-09-14 · C2026A00064
  3. Competition and Consumer Act 2010, including Schedule 2: Australian Consumer LawFederal Register of Legislation · Primary · checked 2026-09-14 · C2004A00109
  4. Online travel agency eDreams pays penalties and gives undertaking over allegedly misleading subscription pricesAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission · Primary · checked 2026-09-14
  5. JustAnswer to pay $10m in penalties for misleading pricing representations and misleading affiliation claimsAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission · Primary · checked 2026-09-14
  6. HelloFresh and Youfoodz in court over alleged subscription trapsAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission · Primary · checked 2026-09-14
  7. Unfair trading tricks and traps to be bannedTreasury Ministers · Primary · checked 2026-09-14