Subscriptions people don't want or don't use cost UK consumers a lot of money each year. In August 2026 the government estimated that consumers spend £1.6 billion a year on subscriptions they don't want, out of around 155 million active subscriptions in the UK (GOV.UK, 9 August 2026). Earlier Citizens Advice research, published in March 2024 and based on a survey of 3,000 UK adults, put spending on unused subscriptions at £688 million a year. That was more than double the £306 million it found at the end of 2022.

How people end up subscribed without meaning to

Of those who found themselves with an accidental subscription, Citizens Advice found:

• 40% said it auto-renewed without their knowledge

• 39% took out a free trial and forgot to cancel

• 24% thought they were making a one-off purchase

Subscriptions now cover everything from fitness apps and food delivery to pet food and magazines, and many roll over automatically at the end of a term (sometimes at a higher price than originally advertised).

The difficulty of getting out also puts people off getting in. 54% told Citizens Advice they had decided against a subscription because of concerns about how hard it would be to cancel.

What the law will change

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act received Royal Assent in May 2024. Its subscription contract rules will require traders to:

• give clear information before someone signs up

• send reminders before a free or discounted trial ends and before a contract of 12 months or more auto-renews

• allow a 14-day cooling-off period after a trial ends or after a contract of 12 months or more renews

• make leaving as straightforward as joining, including online cancellation where someone signed up online

These provisions are not yet in force. In August 2026 the government said they will now come into force in January 2027, earlier than the spring 2027 date it set in April 2026. It also said it would consult in the autumn on whether to ban misleading pricing tactics such as fake 'was' prices. Citizens Advice welcomed the move but said it "can't be the end of the story."

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said in August 2026:

"For too long consumers have been tricked into paying for products or services they don't use — or didn't even want to begin with — costing millions of pounds each year. So we really welcome the government's move to speed up action on subscription traps and look at banning other tactics firms use to catch consumers out."

She added: "People shouldn't have to waste their time and effort avoiding dubious online tactics and fixing unwanted purchases and sign-ups."

Citizens Advice has argued that people should have to actively opt in to auto-renewal, rather than opting out. Three quarters of UK adults (74%) supported a ban on automatic renewals without active agreement, according to its 2024 research.

How to avoid an unwanted subscription

Check what you're signing up to. Note what the service costs, for how long, and what happens at the end of the term. Pre-ticked boxes can't be used to sign you up for extra payments.

Set a reminder before a free trial ends. A week's notice gives time to cancel without rushing.

Read the cancellation terms before signing up, not after. Some subscriptions have a minimum period, a notice requirement, or an exit fee.

Review your statements periodically. Bank and credit card statements, standing orders and direct debits will show what's actually going out. Some banking apps now include tools for viewing and managing recurring payments.

How to cancel one

Cancel with the company first. Citizens Advice has template letters for cancelling a service and suggests keeping a copy as proof that you sent it. If you cancel by phone, note who you spoke to and confirm the cancellation in writing.

If the payment is a recurring card payment, you can ask your card provider to cancel it. The FCA says your card issuer must stop the payments, even if you haven't contacted the business, as long as you ask by the end of the business day before the next payment is due. You can cancel a direct debit or standing order through your bank. Stopping a payment doesn't necessarily end the contract, so you may still owe money under its terms (FCA).

For help with a subscription dispute, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (0808 223 1144 for Welsh language speakers). They can advise on faulty goods, unfair terms and traders who won't cancel.

The Financial Ombudsman Service covers complaints about banks and other financial firms, so it would only be relevant if the issue is with your bank's handling of a payment rather than with the subscription provider itself.