Can someone please explain Forced and Free charges in dumbed down terms so I can understand them. Thanks.
Well, in general:
If the conditions for forced charge (5.C.2) are met, you have 3 options:
You can declare the charge without needing to pay a card
or you can pay a card to cancel the charge
or you can do neither - in which case the charge will still take place as if it had been declared; after all charge declarations are complete, you mark where the charge will go.
Exception to the above (5.C.3), i.e. if you meet 5.C.2 but you also meet 5.C.3 then "forced charge" does not apply, "free charge" applies instead. (loosely speaking, if you have a forced charge but charging is obviously a bad idea, you are not forced to charge, but you can still charge without paying a card if you want to).
Free charges (if you don't qualify above) are also allowed if you meet the criteria given in 5.C.4. However you qualify, this allows you to declare a charge without paying a card. If you don't declare it, no charge takes place (you don't have to pay a card to cancel it)
The criteria in those 3 sections are what they are, you just have to take your time reading carefully and inwardly digesting. I'm not sure they can be "dumbed down".
A forced charge, whether declared or not, has different rules for passing through friends that are in the way. (described at 5.N.8, not at 5.F where you might expect it)
Not sure if that answers your question.
This might help as a quick reference for who gets what.
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