We spend £1.6bn a year on subscriptions we don’t want — fast tracked UK Government policy promises to make cancelling them easier, and will make ‘phoney bargains’ illegal
Andy Burnham government tackling ‘phoney bargains’ and ‘making it as easy to leave a subscription as it is to join’
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has accelerated the proposed subscription cancellation laws, which are now set to launch by January 2027, rather than the originally scheduled Spring 2027. The government aims to simplify the process of ending subscriptions and curb "phony bargains," misleading deals that inflate discounts. The changes will require businesses to send reminders prior to trial endings or contract renewals, provide a 14-day cooling-off period for cancellations, and implement straightforward cancellation procedures for online sign-ups.
Currently, there are 155 million active subscriptions in the UK, with an estimated £1.6 billion lost annually by consumers on unwanted subscriptions. The government plans to launch a consultation this autumn to finalize these regulations.
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