UKAn online subscription auto-renewed without clear notice. Can I cancel?
Yes, you can cancel — UK law requires clear, prominent notice before auto-renewal, and failure to provide it makes the renewal term unenforceable.
What the Law Says
UK consumer law strictly regulates automatic subscription renewals. Two key pieces of legislation apply: the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, businesses must give you clear, comprehensible, and prominent information before you sign up — including whether the contract will automatically renew, how long the renewal period is, and how to cancel it. If they fail to do so, the auto-renewal term is not binding on you.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats unfair terms in consumer contracts as unenforceable. A term that automatically renews a subscription without giving you adequate prior notice — or that makes cancellation unreasonably difficult — is likely to be considered unfair.
You also have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts (like online subscriptions), starting the day after the contract is made — unless the service has already begun with your agreement. If the service starts immediately (e.g., streaming access), the 14-day right to cancel still applies, but you’ll be charged proportionally for any service used.
Statutory TextThe trader must provide the consumer with information about the existence of an automatic renewal clause, the duration of the renewal period and the conditions for termination of the contract.
— Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, reg. 27(1)(g)
Statutory TextA term is unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations… to the detriment of the consumer.
— Consumer Rights Act 2015, s. 62(4) — Unfair terms in consumer contracts
What to Do
Check your email or account dashboard for any pre-renewal notice — it must have been sent at least 5 days before renewal (per CMA guidance).
Contact the company in writing (email is fine) stating you did not receive clear notice and are cancelling under regulation 27 and s.62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Request a full or partial refund for the renewed period — especially if no notice was given or it was buried in fine print.
If refused, escalate to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) via their consumer complaints tool or report to Citizens Advice.
For persistent issues, consider small claims court — claims under £10,000 go through the Money Claim Online service.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.