Why Do Free Template Companies Ask for Credit Card Details?

Free template sites ask for your card because they operate subscription funnels, not genuine free downloads. After you invest 15-20 minutes completing their forms, they require payment details for a “free trial” that auto-renews at £29-£99 per month. The template was never free – the card requirement is the business model.

If a website advertises a “free” legal template but demands your credit card before download, you’re not getting a free template. You’re entering a subscription contract that will charge you automatically unless you cancel within a short trial window. This practice catches thousands of UK business owners every year, often costing £300-£500 annually for documents that should cost a one-time fee of £10-£50.


How the “Free Trial” Trap Works

The pattern is almost identical across these sites:

Step 1: You search for a free template and click a promising result.

Step 2: You spend 15-20 minutes answering questions or customising the document.

Step 3: You’re now emotionally invested. You’ve done the work. You just want the document.

Step 4: At the final step – download – they reveal you need to “create an account” or “start your free trial.”

Step 5: Card details required. “Don’t worry, you won’t be charged today.”

Step 6: Seven days later, you’re charged £39. Then again next month. And the next.

This isn’t an accident. It’s a deliberate conversion funnel designed to maximise sign-ups by hiding the true cost until you’ve invested time and effort.


Why They Need Your Card (The Real Reason)

These companies know most people will:

  • Forget to cancel within the trial period
  • Not notice the charge on their statement
  • Find cancellation difficult or confusing
  • Give up trying to get a refund

The entire business model relies on inertia. They’re not selling templates – they’re selling subscriptions that people forget to cancel.

A genuinely free template doesn’t need your card. If they’re asking for payment details, the template isn’t free.

What a Genuine Free Template Looks Like

Real free templates:

  • Download without card details
  • Don’t require account creation (or make it optional)
  • Show you the full document before any commitment
  • Have no trial period because there’s nothing to trial
  • Don’t email you repeatedly trying to upsell

At Templates UK, our free resources are genuinely free. No card. No trial. No subscription. When we say free, we mean it.


Bundle & Save

What About Paid Templates?

If you need a professional legal document, there’s nothing wrong with paying for it. The question is: subscription or one-time?

Subscription sites: £29-£99/month = £348-£1,188/year for access to templates. Cancel and you lose everything.

One-time purchase: £10 per template at Templates UK. Pay once, own forever. Free updates for life.

Over five years, a subscription costs £1,740-£5,940. A one-time purchase costs £10-£100 depending on how many templates you need.

The maths speaks for itself.

What to Do If You’ve Already Been Caught

If you’ve entered your card details and been charged:

1. Cancel immediately. Log into the site and find subscription settings. Cancel before the next billing cycle.

2. Request a refund. Email their support. Under UK consumer law, you may be entitled to a refund if the pricing wasn’t clearly disclosed upfront.

3. Contact your bank. If the company won’t refund, dispute the charge with your bank as a recurring payment you didn’t authorise.

4. Block future payments. Ask your bank to block future charges from that merchant.


Read the Full Guide

This article is part of our complete guide exposing how “free” template sites operate:

Free Legal Templates UK: The Scam Nobody Talks About

Explore the Master Legal Templates Pillar Guide

The complete overview of 37 essential UK business templates and all legal categories:

UK Business Legal Templates – Complete 2025 Master Guide

Explore All Templates UK Pillar Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for template sites to ask for card details for a free trial?

Yes, it’s legal provided they disclose the subscription terms. However, many sites bury this information in small print, which may breach UK consumer protection regulations if the pricing isn’t sufficiently clear before you enter payment details.

Can I get a refund if I was charged after a free trial?

Possibly. Contact the company first. If they refuse, dispute with your bank. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you may have grounds if the subscription terms weren’t clearly disclosed.

Why do I have to give card details if it’s free?

You don’t – if it’s genuinely free. Any site requiring card details for a “free” template is running a subscription model, not offering a free download.


Last updated: November 2025

Disclaimer: This guide provides general UK legal information, not legal advice. Laws are current as of November 2025.