Stories

Mon, 10 Aug 2026

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 Ban on 'subscription traps' brought forward by three months

The prime minister is embarking on a UK tour with a series of announcements aimed at easing living costs.

* Subscriptions will be easier to cancel and companies will have to clearly state when contracts auto-renew at a higher price.
* Shops will no longer be able to falsely claim products were previously retailed at much higher prices to advertise supposed deals.
* The changes are aimed at ending "subscription traps" and cracking down on "pretend prices".
* The government estimates that the measures will save consumers £400m per year, or up to £170 per person.
* The plans were originally announced in April but have been brought forward by Burnham's government to implement them by January 2027.
* Burnham is also vowing to end shops' use of "pretend prices", including "was" prices and made-up discounts.
* A consultation will be launched this autumn to decide how the new measures should be implemented.
* Consumer group Which? has welcomed the announcement but says the rules should be brought in "swiftly".
* The Liberal Democrats have called for "strengthened protections against rogue traders" and action to tackle supermarket "shrinkflation".