Many people sign up for LinkedIn Premium’s free trial to take advantage of the additional features it offers, intending to cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged. However, it’s easy to forget to cancel with busy schedules. If you forget to cancel before the free trial ends, you will automatically be charged for a month of LinkedIn Premium. Here’s an overview of what happens and steps you can take if you forget to cancel the free Premium trial on LinkedIn:
You will be charged
If you don’t cancel before the free trial ends, LinkedIn will automatically start charging you for the paid Premium subscription. The charge will be for one month of Premium access at LinkedIn’s current monthly rate. As of October 2022, LinkedIn Premium costs $29.99 per month for the basic Premium plan.
LinkedIn will use the payment method you provided when signing up for the trial. This is usually a credit or debit card. The charge will appear on your next billing statement from your card provider.
How to view or cancel the Premium subscription
If you forgot to cancel and find you’ve been charged, you can view your Premium subscription status and cancel future renewals by going to your LinkedIn account settings:
- Click on your profile photo in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
- Go to the “Account” section on the left sidebar
- Under “Premium Career” click “Manage”
This will take you to your Premium subscription page. Here you can see your status, cancel future auto-renewals, and change the payment method.
Downgrading back to a free account
Canceling the auto-renewal will stop you from being charged again when the next billing cycle hits. However, it won’t automatically downgrade you back to a free account.
To immediately downgrade and lose Premium access, click the “Cancel Premium” button on the subscription page. You’ll revert to a free account right away but won’t receive any refund for the month you’ve already been billed for.
Getting a refund
Since you were accidentally charged for LinkedIn Premium, you may want to request a refund for the month. LinkedIn does allow refunds on Premium subscriptions within 60 days of the payment.
To request a refund:
- Go to your Premium subscription page
- Click “Request refund”
- Select a reason for the refund request
- Confirm the request
LinkedIn states that refunds can take up to 10 business days to process. It’s a good idea to follow up if you don’t see the refund after this timeframe.
What features do you lose by downgrading to a free account?
LinkedIn Premium provides several benefits over the free version. Here are some of the key features you’ll lose access to if you cancel Premium and revert to a free account:
Profile customization
With Premium you can add a background photo and customizable sections to your profile. Free accounts have limited profile customization options.
InMail messages
Premium allows you to directly message anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected. Free accounts can only message direct connections.
Search filters
Premium lets you filter searches by date, location, company size and more. Free search is more limited.
Profile visibility
Premium accounts get up to 10x more profile views due to higher ranking in search results. Free accounts have lower visibility.
Insights and statistics
Premium provides insights into who’s viewed your profile and detailed statistics on content performance. Free accounts lack these analytics.
Learning courses
Premium includes access to over 16,000 professional development courses. Free accounts don’t include LinkedIn Learning.
Ad removal
Premium removes ads from the LinkedIn experience. Free accounts still see ads.
What are the pros and cons of keeping Premium?
Although accidentally paying for Premium isn’t ideal, there are some benefits to keeping the upgraded subscription if you can afford it. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Increased profile views and search ranking
- Ability to message recruiters and prospects
- Expanded profile customization options
- No ads
- Premium professional development courses
- Advanced analytics and insights
Cons
- $29.99 monthly charge
- May not use or need all Premium features
- Free account may be sufficient
- Have to actively cancel to avoid auto-renewal
If you’re actively job searching or networking, Premium can provide enough value to be worth the monthly charge for some users. But assess whether you really need the paid upgrade before keeping it long term.
Best practices for managing free trials
Forgetting to cancel free trials is extremely common. Here are some tips to manage them properly so you can avoid surprise charges in the future:
Set calendar reminders
When you sign up for a free trial, immediately put a reminder on your calendar a few days before it ends. This gives you time to decide if you want to continue the paid service.
Use a dedicated card
Sign up for trials using a virtual credit card service or dedicated card you only use for free trials. This makes it easier to spot unwanted charges.
Set up trial cancellation reminders
Sites like FreeTrialCritic can send you email reminders to cancel trials before time runs out.
Read the fine print
Carefully review the terms so you know the exact trial length, cancellation process, and charges for not cancelling.
Cancel via website if possible
Cancel directly on the company’s website when available. This ensures immediate cancellation rather than having to contact customer service.
Follow up after canceling
Check your card statements over the next billing cycles to make sure no charges go through after you cancel. Follow up with the company if they do.
The bottom line
Forgetting to cancel a LinkedIn Premium trial will result in a charge for one month of access at $29.99. You can view your subscription status in your account settings and request a refund within 60 days. Downgrading back to a free account can be done instantly but doesn’t provide a refund. Consider the pros and cons of Premium to decide if it’s worth keeping. And implement trial best practices to avoid accidental charges going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
LinkedIn Premium currently costs $29.99 per month if paying monthly. Discounted annual rates are available too. The cost occasionally changes so check LinkedIn for the latest pricing.
Can I get a refund after being charged for Premium?
Yes, LinkedIn allows Premium subscription refunds within 60 days of being charged. You must actively request the refund – it is not automatic.
What happens if I do nothing after the trial ends?
Your Premium subscription will automatically renew each month and you will continue to be charged $29.99 on an ongoing basis. You must actively cancel to avoid being charged.
Can I cancel Premium immediately to get the rest of the month free?
No, there is no way to get a partial refund or free access for the remainder of the billing cycle. Cancelling immediately simply prevents future charges but doesn’t refund the current month.
What is the cheapest way to use LinkedIn Premium?
The cheapest way is to only use the 1 month free trial. If you want extended use, pay annually rather than monthly to get a discount. Some companies subsidize Premium costs for employees too.
What are the biggest benefits of LinkedIn Premium?
The biggest benefits are increased profile views, being able to message recruiters directly, expanded profile customization options, and unlimited access to online professional development courses.
Is Premium worth the money?
It depends on your career objectives and how actively you use LinkedIn. For job seekers and those networking regularly, Premium can provide enough value to justify the cost. But assess your specific needs.
Conclusion
Forgetting to cancel free trials happens, but doesn’t have to be disastrous. With LinkedIn Premium you will be charged for one month, but you have options to cancel, downgrade, or request a refund. Take steps to avoid forgetting again, and leverage Premium’s features if you see enough value to keep your paid subscription. Consistently monitoring trials and charges prevents unwanted surprises.