Here are the new Netflix, Disney +, and HBO Max subscription rules for the UK
Hard-working British consumers are set to keep hundreds of millions of pounds in their pockets each year thanks to new government rules aimed at stamping out “subscription traps”.
Subscription traps are frustrating and often hidden practices that see people locked into unwanted recurring payments for streaming services, gym memberships, meal kits, apps, and more.
The measures will make it far easier to cancel subscriptions, introduce mandatory reminders before trials end or contracts auto-renew, and provide clearer upfront information when signing up.
Officials estimate the changes will save UK households around £400 million annually once fully in force.
There are an estimated 155 million active subscriptions across the country, but nearly 10 million of them are believed to be unwanted.
More than 3.5 million people are quietly rolled from free or discounted trials into full-price contracts without realising, while another 1.3 million get caught out by unexpected auto-renewals. On average, cancelling an unwanted subscription could save consumers around £14 per month – or nearly £170 a year each.
Minister for Consumer Protection Kate Dearden said the rules will put people back in control of their money at a time when household budgets remain under pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.
“There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing money you’ve worked hard for disappear from your account for a subscription you’ve forgotten you had,” Dearden said.
“These new rules will put consumers back in control of their money – making subscriptions clearer, fairer and far easier to cancel.”
What changes are coming?
The new regime, which builds on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), includes several consumer-friendly requirements expected to take effect in spring 2027:
- Clear, simple information before any subscription is signed up to.
- Reminders before free or discounted trials end, and before contracts of 12 months or longer automatically renew.
- Straightforward online cancellations – if you signed up online, you should be able to cancel with “the click of a button,” ending the need for endless phone calls or hidden contact details.
- A new 14-day cooling-off period after a free or discounted trial ends, or when a long-term contract auto-renews, allowing consumers to exit and receive a full or proportionate refund.
The government is also consulting on consistent rules for refunds during cooling-off periods, coherent information requirements, and technical details to ensure the system is fair for both consumers and legitimate businesses.
Certain charitable, cultural, and heritage organisation memberships will be excluded due to their unique role.
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Rights Policy, welcomed the move, noting that subscription traps can wreak havoc on already strained household finances.
“These new rules will help put consumers in the driving seat with proper transparency and protection,” she said.
