Anger as customers with subscriptions could be hit by higher prices at start of next year

Businesses have warned that customers with subscriptions to services such as news publications, dating apps and streaming platforms could face higher prices from January, after the Government abruptly moved forward new rules aimed at ending "subscription traps." A coalition of publishers and tech firms says the accelerated timeline leaves them "little to no time" to comply, and that the extra costs of rushing changes through will likely be passed on to consumers.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the rules as part of a package of "everyday fixes" to ease the cost of living, requiring firms to give clearer upfront pricing, send renewal reminders, simplify cancellations, and offer a 14-day cooling-off period after trials or contract renewals, with estimated savings of around £14 a month per unwanted subscription. However, the changes were originally promised for spring 2027 under the previous Starmer government before being brought forward to January, prompting complaints from a business coalition and Theo Bamber of the News Media Association, who called the reduced timeline a risk to media growth and urged the Competition and Markets Authority to provide an adjustment period.