UK PM Burnham takes aim at ‘rip-off’ discounts with crackdown on fake bargains, hard-to-cancel subscriptions

London, August 10 — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to combat hard-to-cancel subscriptions and deceptive discounts as part of a strategy to address the nation's cost-of-living crisis, according to Downing Street. This announcement coincided with Burnham's return from vacation and the commencement of his nationwide tour, aimed at engaging with citizens regarding their financial hardships, his office reported.

In a statement, Burnham expressed frustration with "rip-off discounts and subscription traps", where it is difficult to cancel subscriptions or see them automatically renew at a higher cost. His administration plans to make "exiting a subscription as effortless as joining one". Currently, British consumers are "forfeiting an estimated £1.6 billion (RM8.82 billion) annually on subscriptions they do not desire", the Downing Street report stated.

New regulations will take effect in early 2022, compelling businesses to furnish consumers with "crystal-clear upfront information, periodic reminders, and simplified exit procedures for contracts". Additionally, a 14-day "cooling-off period" will be established to facilitate cancellations following a trial or contract renewal, the government announced, without detailing the implementation process.

Burnham further vowed to address "misleading discount claims" based on inflated full-price prices. Having served as a regional mayor in northern England for nearly a decade, Burnham has emphasized his intention to bring politics beyond Westminster. The Mirror newspaper reported that his "cost-of-living tour" this month would encompass all regions of the United Kingdom, including economically struggling areas like Port Talbot in Wales.

During his tour, Burnham pledged to ask, "What would truly improve your life?" Upon assuming office, the prime minister vowed to draft a 10-year plan for the country. His initial measures included a tax reduction on energy bills exacerbated by the US-Iran conflict, a cap on bus fares, and a reduction in business rates for pubs. Both right-wing and left-wing opposition parties have criticized these measures as insufficient.