Exactly how to cancel any free trial before it converts to a paid subscription — and what to do if you get charged anyway. This guide applies specifically to Wall Street Journal ($4-$39.99/mo) subscribers in Maryland, citing applicable state and federal law.
Maryland's Automatic Renewal Law (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1321) gives you specific protections when dealing with Wall Street Journal subscriptions:
Penalties: CPA violation — AG enforcement plus private right of action
Applied to Wall Street Journal (Phone only) in Maryland
Set a reminder 2 days before the trial ends
The moment you sign up for a free trial, set a calendar reminder for 2 days before it ends. This gives you a buffer in case the cancellation process takes time to process.
Maryland note: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1321 requires Wall Street Journal to provide an easy cancellation mechanism.
Find the trial end date
Check your signup confirmation email for the exact trial end date. Log into your account → Billing to see the next charge date. Mark it explicitly.
Cancel through the same channel you signed up
Under the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule, you must be able to cancel the same way you signed up. If you signed up online, they must let you cancel online.
Screenshot your cancellation confirmation
After canceling, take a screenshot of the confirmation page. Save the confirmation email. This is your proof if they charge you after the trial.
Verify no charge on your next statement
Check your bank or card statement after the trial end date. If charged, cite ROSCA (15 USC § 8403) and request an immediate refund — unclear trial terms are illegal.
Method: Phone only · Difficulty: hard
Wall Street Journal-specific tips
No refund for current period.
Under Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1321, you may be entitled to a full refund if Wall Street Journal didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to Wall Street Journal in every state, including Maryland:
SubScrub auto-cites Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1321 + sends legally-backed letters