When subscription reminder notices are due

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 The government's draft guidance (published 19 October 2026) says the rules apply to subscription contracts entered into on or after 1 January 2027, and that final guidance will follow once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.

A reminder notice is due before certain renewal payments: payments the consumer could avoid by ending the contract (s.258(7)). The trader does not have to remind before every payment.

Rolling plans with no trial (weekly, monthly, quarterly)

The Act uses a "relevant six-month period". The first starts the day after the contract is entered into. Each later one starts the day after the consumer became liable for the last payment that needed a reminder (s.258(2)). A reminder is needed for the last (or only) renewal payment in each period. If no renewal payment falls inside a period, the reminder is for the first payment after it ends (s.258(5)).

Example (from the draft guidance). A customer signs up on 1 June and pays monthly on the 1st. Reminders are needed for the 1 December payment and then the following 1 June payment, about two a year.

Plans that renew for 12 months or more

Every annual renewal payment needs a reminder. Because the next payment is more than 12 months away, an additional, earlier reminder is also required. It must come before the main notice, at a time that is reasonable for giving extra warning (s.259(6)–(8)).

Free trials and introductory prices

If the contract has a concessionary period (a free or cheaper start that turns into a higher charge), a reminder is due for the first renewal payment. After that, the six-month cycle runs from the day after that payment (s.258(3)–(4)).

The draft SCRs adjust this for a discount at one fixed rate that spans several payments, such as three months at 50%: the reminder is for the first payment at the higher rate, not for the discounted payments (draft SCRs reg. 33; draft guidance 4.4.1, scenario 4).

When in the run-up it must arrive

Your key pre-contract information must state the period in which reminders will arrive, for example "between 14 and 7 days before the last day you can cancel". That period must be reasonable, so the customer has time to decide and act. The notice must then arrive within the period you stated (s.259(3)–(5)). The last cancellation date is the last day the customer can end the contract and avoid the payment.

Calculate the dates for a plan

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