Can I offer a free trial for my product or service in Washington? What are the requirements?

Free Trial Requirements in Washington State

If you are planning to offer a free trial for your product or service in Washington State, there are no specific state laws or regulations that prohibit free trials. However, you should be aware of certain requirements that apply to businesses offering free trials.

Under the Washington Consumer Protection Act (CPA), businesses must not engage in any unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including false advertising or misrepresentations about the terms of a free trial offer ^[5.1].

To comply with the CPA, businesses offering free trials should:

1. Clearly disclose all terms and conditions of the free trial, including any fees that will be charged after the trial period ends.
2. Obtain the consumer’s express consent before charging any fees.
3. Provide a simple and easy way for consumers to cancel the free trial and avoid being charged any fees.
4. Refund any fees charged to consumers who were not adequately informed of the terms and conditions of the free trial.

It is also important to note that businesses offering free trials of certain products or services, such as dietary supplements or weight loss products, may be subject to additional regulations and requirements under federal law ^[5.1].

In summary, while there are no specific requirements for offering free trials in Washington State, businesses must comply with the Washington Consumer Protection Act and provide clear and accurate information about the terms and conditions of the free trial offer.

Note that the documents provided in the context do not provide any additional relevant information to the query.

Source(s):

• [5.1] Mail and internet sales—License required—Age and identity verification—Penalties—Enforcement—Application of consumer protection act—Rules.

Jurisdiction

Washington

• General