Subscriptions And Cancelling

The Short Version

The government has said new subscription contract rules will come into force in January 2027 (GOV.UK, 9 August 2026, updated 10 September 2026). An earlier government response in April 2026 said spring 2027, so the date has moved before. The rules will be set out in regulations, so check the final text before you rely on any detail here.

What The Government Response Describes

• Clear information before sign-up. Consumers should get clear pre-contract information.
• Reminders. A reminder before a free trial ends, and before a contract of 12 months or more renews automatically. Reminders must be in writing and their purpose must be immediately clear.
• Two 14-day cooling-off periods. One when the consumer first enters the contract, and one after a trial or a 12-month-plus contract renews automatically. Refunds must be paid without undue delay and within 14 days, using the original payment method unless agreed otherwise.
• Easy exit. Consumers must be able to exit "in a straightforward way without unnecessary hurdles". If they signed up online, they must be able to exit online. Offers or feedback requests must not frustrate or unreasonably lengthen the process.

What To Look At Now

• Can a customer who signed up online cancel online, without phoning?
• Do you tell people before a trial turns into a paid plan?
• Does your cancellation journey add extra screens, offers or questions?

What We Do

SiteAudit can look at your sign-up and cancellation journeys now and flag possible risks. ReviewRadar watches for changes such as the start date.

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