For anyone thinking of signing up to a gym again for one of their New Year’s resolutions, it is another good excuse to give it a miss.
Consumers are paying an average of £160 over three months for subscriptions they do not want but struggle to get rid of.
These includes everything from the gym, to TV and online streaming services, according to Citizens Advice.
Many customers are lured into signing up for free or cut price deals for initial periods.
Consumers are paying an average of £160 over three months for subscriptions they do not want but struggle to get rid of, like gym memberships
Around 40 million are signed up to at least one such product or service in the UK.
The trouble is that getting out of these deals is often easier said than done.
According to Citizens Advice, the overwhelming majority of customers who tried to ditch their contracts were rejected at first by the company in question.
Analysis of 586 related problems reported by consumers to the charity found that over just three months consumers paid an average of £160 towards unwanted subscriptions.
Many customers are lured into signing up for free or cut price deals for initial periods and find then find the subscriptions impossible to get out of
Its analysis of these cases, reported between June and August, found that around nine in 10 people were initially refused by the company when they tried to cancel their subscription.
Companies refused cancellations by asking for more notice – stretching to six months in some cases – or told people they needed to cancel through a specific route, such as phone or email.
One person who contacted the Citizens Advice consumer service said they tried to cancel a subscription after they were made redundant at work only to be asked for proof from their employer – including a P45.
Citizens Advice said that under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, businesses cannot enforce terms on consumers that are unfair.
Consumers told the Citizens Advice consumer service they felt it was unclear they were being signed up to a recurring payment in the first place or that the contract may continue on an auto renewal basis.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: ‘Subscriptions are very easy to sign up to but can be difficult for consumers to get out of.
‘We know people are wasting time and energy trying to cancel subscriptions while paying out of pocket.
‘As part of National Consumer Week, we want to make sure consumers are aware of the terms and conditions of any subscription before they sign up and companies act responsibly when customers want to end their services.’
Consumer minister Margot James said: ‘With 40 million people in the UK now subscribing to at least one product or service, this campaign from Citizens Advice will help ensure consumers can shop with confidence and know what their rights are should things go wrong.’
Consumers have been urged to check their cancellation rights, before signing up for a product or service.
Each supplier can set their own cancellation policy and they do not need to offer you a right to cancel your subscription early.
Make sure the terms and conditions look reasonable before signing up.
If you bought the subscription online, the law says you usually have 14 days to get your money back if you change your mind.
But you might not be able to get a refund if you start using the service straight away.
Citizens Advice has also urged customers to follow the cancellation policy set out in the contract when they ready to end a subscription.
Consumers who stop a payment without checking what else is required first may find the subscription has not been cancelled, making them liable for any missed payments.
If complaining to the firm’s customer services department does not work, customers can go to the supplier’s trade or complaints body or report to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer service.