LONDON, April 2 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

*

Newmeasuresset outto make subscriptions clearer and fareasier to manageor cancel

*

Changeswill help tackle the cost of living, bysavingconsumers around£400mannuallywith new rules to stop "free trials" turning into pricey surprises 

*

Consumers at the heart of action,with protections against daily grinds such as endless phone queues to cancel subscriptionssigned up to with the click of a button

Hard working Brits will keep more of their cash under a new government crackdown on unwanted and misleading subscriptions, which will save consumers around £400 million every year.

Newrules, announced today[2 April],will make it simpler and far less painful to escape unwanted subscriptions,stop people being silently rolled onto expensive contracts and ensure that companies are upfront and open when selling subscription services.

This willhelp tackle thecost-of-livinghead onbygivingconsumers greater control over their spending to help them keep hold of their hard-earned cash at a time when household budgets are under pressure.

Kate DeardenMP, Minister for Consumer Protection, said:

"There'snothing more frustrating than seeing moneyyou'veworked hard for, disappear from your accountfor a subscriptionyou'veforgotten you had.

"These new rules will put consumers back in control oftheir money- making subscriptions clearer, fairer and far easier to cancel."

Once the rules come into force, expected to be inSpring2027,consumers willbenefitfrom:

*

Clear, simple information before signing up to any subscription

*

Reminders beforefreeor discountedtrials end,or12month+contracts automaticallyrenew

*

Straightforwardcancellations,including online exitsfor online sign ups

*

A new14-daycoolingoffperiod, after afreeor discountedtrial ends,orwhen a contract renews for12 monthsor longer

Across the UK, there are 155 million active subscriptions- withnearly 10millionof thembelieved to beunwanted.

Over 3.5 million people are being quietly rolled from freeor discountedtrials intofully costedcontracts, whilstanother 1.3 millionare caught outbyunexpectedautorenewals.

Bymaking it easier to cancel unwanted services,consumers could savearound£14everymonth(on average) perunwanted subscription-nearly £170a year.

Sue Davies, Which?Head of Consumer Rights Policy,said:

"Subscription traps can be costly and wreak havoc on finances that are already under strain from the cost-of-living crisis.



"The strengthening of subscription laws will be welcome news for those struggling with rising costs.



"These new rules will helpput consumers in the driving seat with proper transparency and protection."

New measures mark another major milestone in enhancing consumer protectionsand implementing measures introduced in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024(DMCCA).

As well as strengthening consumer rights, measures will support competition and growth by ensuring all businessesoperateon a level playing field.

The measures are expected to come into force in spring 2027.

Lord Richard Walker, Government's Cost of Living Champion, said:

"At a time when every pound matters, these new rules will give consumers the clarity and control they deserve.

"By stopping companies from quietly rolling people onto costly contracts and making cancellations far simpler, households can stay on top of their budgets and keep more of their money where it belongs: in their own pockets.

Tacklingsubscription traps is just one of the many stepsthisgovernment is taking to support consumers. Otherrecentaction includes rewiring enforcement toclamp down on rogue traders likerip-offlocksmiths andlaunching a new Smart Data strategyas part of our Industrial Strategy.

Smart Dataempowers consumers by giving them secure access to their own data and the ability to share it safely with trusted third parties,enablingpersonalised tools that helpshoppersidentifybetter‑value products and services.

This strengthens and helps ensure firms offer fair prices and high‑quality outcomes for consumers.

Today the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business and Trade have written to all Secretaries of State and heads of regulators asking them fornew ideasto protect consumers to drive down the cost of living. These will be published in a consumer action plan later this year.

NOTES TOEDITORS

*

The Government will bring forward regulations for:

* Initial cooling-off period refunds:Ensure that for contracts covered by the new rules, initial cooling-off rights and refunds arebroadlyconsistent with theexisting Consumer Contract Regulations. This includesretaininga waiverfor digital content. This willmaintainexisting consumer protections and provide consistency for both consumers and businesses. * Renewal cooling-off period refunds:Ensure that for contracts covered by the new rules, consumershave a14 dayperiod aftera trial or 12 month+ contract auto-renews to cancel and receive a full or proportionate refund. This will ensure consumers are not out of pocket if they miss the auto-renewal date, and proportionate refunds ensure businesses are compensated for the proportionof contractservices or digital contentsupplied. * Charitable memberships:Certain memberships of charitable, cultural and heritage organisations will be excluded from the new rules given the unique role they have in preserving andopening upaccess to the nation's history, landscapes, and cultural collections. * Information and notices:Ensure requirements for information and notices are coherent and consistent. This will make it easier forbusinesses to manage and consumers to make informed decisions and takeappropriate action. *

Technical operational detail:Ensure that the consequences and remedies for breaches are fair and that the technical operation of the regime is consistent with theConsumer Contract Regulationswhere possible. This will ensure a clear,fairand functioning regime that protects consumers from harm and has safeguards, so traders are not unfairly penalised.

* Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act - impact assessment and statistics

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.