🔍 Why Was I Charged During My Free Trial?
Search Atlas offers a 7-day free trial on select plans. However, a charge may appear on your statement in the following situations:
- Card authorisation hold: When you enter your payment details at checkout, your bank may place a temporary authorisation hold to verify the card. This is not a real charge and typically disappears within 3–5 business days.
- Trial already used: The free trial is available once per account. If you have previously used a free trial, your new subscription will be billed immediately from the start date.
- Pending cancellation status: If your account was in a pending cancellation state when you re-subscribed, the checkout may have displayed a free trial offer that did not apply to your account. In this case, a charge is processed at signup.
- Plan or billing cycle mismatch: Some promotional plans or checkout flows may not include a free trial. Always confirm the trial terms shown on the final checkout screen before completing your purchase.
✅ Am I Eligible for a Refund?
Refund eligibility depends on the specific circumstances of your charge. As a general guideline:
- If you were charged immediately and the checkout screen clearly showed a 7-day free trial that should have applied to your account, you may be eligible for a refund.
- If your account had already used a free trial previously, the charge is expected and a refund would not typically apply.
- If the charge is a temporary authorisation hold from your bank, no refund is needed — the hold will be released automatically.
Our support team reviews each refund request individually and will confirm your eligibility based on your account history.
📋 What Information to Have Ready
To help our team resolve your request as quickly as possible, please have the following details available before reaching out:
- The email address associated with your Search Atlas account
- The date and amount of the charge you are disputing
- A screenshot of the checkout screen showing the free trial offer (if available)
- The name of the plan or promotion you signed up for
⏱️ How Long Does a Refund Take?
Once a refund is approved, processing times vary depending on your payment method and bank:
- Credit or debit card: Typically 5–10 business days to appear on your statement.
- Temporary authorisation holds: Released automatically within 3–5 business days without any action required.
You will receive confirmation from our team once a refund has been issued on our end.
💬 How to Request a Refund
Our support team is ready to review your case and process a refund if you are eligible. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.