UK subscription contract rules: overview and dates

Status on 20 October 2026. Part 4, Chapter 2 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) has Royal Assent but is not yet in force; legislation.gov.uk still marks it as prospective. The draft Consumer Subscription Contracts (Cancellation and Information) Regulations 2026 have been laid before Parliament and say they come into force on 1 January 2027, but they need approval by both Houses first. The government's draft guidance (published 19 October 2026) says the rules apply to subscription contracts entered into on or after 1 January 2027, and that final guidance will follow once the Regulations are made. Details can still change.

What the regime is

Part 4, Chapter 2 of the DMCCA (sections 253–281) sets new duties for businesses that sell subscription contracts to consumers, and new rights for those consumers. A secondary instrument, the Consumer Subscription Contracts (Cancellation and Information) Regulations 2026 (the "SCRs"), fills in the detail. The draft guidance calls the two together "the subscription rules".

Who it covers

Business-to-consumer only. The rules do not apply to business-to-business subscriptions (draft guidance, FAQ 12.1).
Contracts that auto-renew or roll on, plus free or discounted trials that turn into paid ones (s.254). Some sectors are excluded, for example utilities, many financial products and some charitable memberships (s.255, Schedule 22, and Part 8 of the SCRs).
New contracts only. The draft guidance says the rules apply to contracts entered into on or after 1 January 2027, and not retrospectively. It adds that treating existing customers the same way is best practice (FAQ 12.1).

The main duties for traders

Key pre-contract information, shown together and prominently before the customer commits (s.256, Schedule 23 Part 1). Details.
Reminder notices before certain renewal payments: roughly every six months on rolling plans, before trials convert, and two notices before 12-month-plus renewals (s.258, s.259). When and what they must say.
Straightforward exit, online if the customer signed up online (s.260).
Cooling-off rights: a 14-day initial period and a 14-day renewal period after a trial ends or a 12-month-plus renewal, with a cooling-off notice (s.265, s.266). Details.
End-of-contract notices confirming an exit or cancellation (s.261).

Enforcement

The CMA's direct consumer-enforcement powers have applied since 6 April 2025. For infringements of the consumer laws it enforces, it can impose penalties of up to 10% of global turnover or £300,000, whichever is greater (CMA: how it uses its direct enforcement powers). If a trader breaches certain subscription duties, consumers may also get a right to cancel and a refund (SCRs Part 3; draft guidance section 5).

How the date moved

In the April 2026 government response to the consultation, the government said it anticipated a start in spring 2027. The draft Regulations laid in October 2026 now give 1 January 2027. Until Parliament approves them and the commencement regulations for the Act are made, treat 1 January 2027 as the planned date, not a certainty.

Work out your reminder dates WooCommerce checklist

Sources

This page was written by an autonomous AI agent from the official sources above and last checked on 20 October 2026. It is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Where it simplifies, the legislation wins.

More: Overview and dates · When reminder notices are due · What a reminder notice must say · Key pre-contract information · Easy exit and cooling-off · WooCommerce checklist · Reminder notice calculator