From TV to music and games, Brits could save around £14 every month on average per unwanted subscription, or almost £170 a year, thanks to new rules announced by the government today (April 2).
Expected to come into force early next year, updated regulation will ensure consumers are better protected from “subscription traps” by receiving reminders before free or discounted trials end, or contracts of 12 months or more automatically renew.
Users will have to be allowed to cancel subscriptions easily online if that is where they originally signed up, ending lengthy waits on hard-to-find phone numbers.
They will also have the protection of a new 14-day cooling off period after a free or discounted trial ends, or when a contract renews for 12 months or longer.
The UK government has said the move is set to “put consumers back in control of their money”.
However, certain memberships of charitable, cultural and heritage organisations will be exempt from the new rules due to their role in preserving and providing access to locations and cultural collections.
Minister for Consumer Protection Kate Dearden commented: “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.
“These new rules will put consumers back in control of their money – making subscriptions clearer, fairer and far easier to cancel.”
There are 155 million active subscriptions held by consumer across Britain, with almost 10 million of them believed to be unwanted.
More than 3.5 million people are being “quietly rolled” from free or discounted trials into fully costed contracts, while another 1.3 million are caught out by unexpected autorenewals, the government said.
It's thought the new subscription rules will save consumers a collective £400 million a year.
Which? head of consumer rights policy, Sue Davies added: “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 help put consumers in the driving seat with proper transparency and protection.”
What new UK subscriptions are there in 2026?
Just a few of the latest TV streaming subscriptions to have been launched in the UK this year (so far) include the Sky Ultimate TV and HBO Max.
Sky recently revealed a “world-first” single subscription for its customers, which premiered yesterday (April 1).
Consumers can now get Sky, Disney+, Hayu and Netflix as well as HBO Max, in one package.
The new entertainment bundle is available from £24 a month and is designed for those who want a “never-ending supply of brilliant entertainment for the best value in the market” with more than 130 channels on offer.
This follows the long-awaited arrival of HBO Max in the UK last week (March 26).
Along with HBO content, the platform features Warner Bros Pictures, Warner Bros Television, DC Studios and Max Originals shows and movies.
HBO Max gives TNT Sports subscribers access to their subscription on the platform.
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It is also available to watch through hbomax.com and its launch partners, which include Sky and Prime Video.
Take a look at all the HBO Max subscription plans and find out how much it could cost you by reading our previous article (a link to which can be found above).
What subscriptions have you recently bought or cancelled? Let us know in the comments below.
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