BOTLOBBIESDoes connection time count towards the free trial?
Yes. The published trial terms include connection and configuration within the 30-minute window, so the timer can run while the bot is starting or reconnecting.
Why the timer can move before you play
The server creates the trial record before it finishes ensuring that the bot process is ready. That record already contains the trial's start and expiry. A status such as starting is therefore part of an active trial, rather than a promise that billing-style time has not begun. Choosing settings and waiting for the connection can both reduce the remaining time. The countdown represents the trial window available to that account, not a stopwatch triggered by the first successful invitation or first match.
Reading status and errors
Use the panel's status and remaining-time display together. An active timer does not prove the bot is already online, and a connection message does not extend the deadline. If a connection fails, keep the exact visible error and the approximate time of the attempt. Those details are more useful than repeated Start clicks, which can return the existing trial. Check that the correct Epic account is linked and follow any relinking message the site gives you, without sharing the authorization credentials with another person.
What an investigation can establish
Support can compare the symptom with the account's trial status and investigate whether a service error occurred. The current trial rules do not promise automatic replacement minutes, a timer pause or a new trial after a failed connection. Avoid assuming that a payment is required merely because startup was slow: the initial trial and a later subscription are separate decisions. If you consider continuing with PRO, review the price and renewal terms on the actual confirmation screen after understanding the connection issue you encountered.