Official sources and facts sheet
Everything on this site traces back to these documents. Last checked 24 October 2026.
The regulations are drafts awaiting parliamentary approval and the guidance is a draft. If an official page and this site disagree, the official page wins. Tell us at hello@kortechx.com and we will fix it.
Official documents
- GOV.UK: Subscription contracts (draft regulations and draft guidance, 19 October 2026)
The Department for Business and Trade's page with the draft guidance for businesses.
- Draft Consumer Subscription Contracts (Cancellation and Information) Regulations 2026
The draft rules on cooling-off, cancellation and information. Laid before Parliament 19 October 2026. Not yet approved.
- Draft DMCC Act 2024 (Subscription Contracts) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
Companion draft instrument that tidies up other laws.
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Part 4 Chapter 2 (sections 253 to 273)
The primary law. Section 254 defines a subscription contract; section 255 lists excluded contracts.
- Government response to the consultation on implementing the subscription contracts regime (2 April 2026)
Explains the decisions on reminders, cooling-off refunds and exemptions.
- Prime Minister's announcement bringing the start forward to January 2027 (9 August 2026)
Source of the 155 million subscriptions, £1.6 billion and £14 a month figures.
- Subscription traps impact assessment (Department for Business and Trade, April 2023)
Where the headline statistics originally come from.
- CMA case: Microsoft consumer protection enforcement (opened July 2026)
An example of the regulator looking at subscription practices under existing law.
Facts we rely on
| Topic | Position on 24 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Primary law | Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Part 4 Chapter 2 (sections 253 to 273). Section 254 defines a subscription contract; section 255 and its Schedule list excluded contracts. |
| Secondary rules | Draft Consumer Subscription Contracts (Cancellation and Information) Regulations 2026, laid before both Houses of Parliament on 19 October 2026. Reported to follow the affirmative procedure, so both Houses must approve them. |
| Guidance | Draft 'Subscription contracts rules guidance' published by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 October 2026. A final version is expected after the regulations are made. |
| Start date | 1 January 2027, for subscription contracts entered into on or after that date. Earlier expectations were spring 2026, autumn 2026 and spring 2027; the Prime Minister announced the January 2027 date on 9 August 2026. |
| Existing subscriptions | Not covered, even when they renew after the start date. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 continue to apply to them. |
| Reminders | Before a trial or discounted period converts; before a renewal of 12 months or more; at the end of each six-month period on rolling contracts. Timing is set by the business, must be reasonable, must be stated in the key pre-contract information, and must then be kept. |
| Cooling-off | 14 days at the start, and 14 days after a trial converts or a 12-month-plus contract renews. Non-waivable. Refund within 14 days to the same payment method; proportionate deduction for use allowed on the renewal cooling-off. Extended by up to 12 months if not disclosed. |
| Cancellation | Straightforward, with no steps that are not reasonably necessary. Online where the contract was made online. Retention offers allowed but must not frustrate the exit. |
| Exclusions | Financial services and insurance; Ofcom-regulated telecoms; gas, electricity and water; healthcare and prescription medicines; package travel; childcare and school-age education; gambling; residential rental; leisure activities on a specific date; certain charitable, cultural and heritage memberships. Free and data-only services are outside the definition. |
| Territorial scope | Applies to businesses with a place of business in the UK, carrying on business in the UK, or directing commercial practices to UK consumers by any means, wherever they are based. |
| Enforcement | Competition and Markets Authority direct enforcement since 6 April 2025; fines of up to 10% of global turnover or £300,000, whichever is higher. No grace period. CMA said on 14 October 2026 it will focus early on helping businesses comply but will act from day one against egregious breaches. |
| Statistics | About 155 million active subscriptions; about 9.7 million (5.8%) unwanted; about £1.6 billion a year spent on unwanted subscriptions; about £14 a month per unwanted subscription. Source: DBT impact assessment, April 2023, restated by the government in November 2024 and August 2026. |