You forgot to cancel a £1 trial. Suddenly you're locked into a recurring payment. The key is knowing what you agreed to now — and what the new UK subscription regime is expected to change in 2027.
"Only £1" Can Still Become a Recurring Contract
A low-cost or free trial can convert into a paid subscription when the introductory period ends. Under current UK consumer-contract rules, a trader generally needs to provide the required pre-contract information before an online, phone or other distance contract is concluded, including important information about the service, price, duration and cancellation where the rules apply.
The important point is to separate what the contract says today from the new subscription-specific regime coming later. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 creates a dedicated subscription-contract regime, but the UK government currently anticipates that regime will commence in spring 2027.
What to Check Before Entering Your Card Details
- Trial price and duration: is it genuinely £0, £1, or another introductory amount?
- First paid charge: exactly when will the first recurring payment be taken?
- Ongoing price: what is the standard price after the trial?
- Billing frequency: monthly, annual or another interval?
- Cancellation method: what must you do to stop the conversion?
Save the offer and the terms at the point of sign-up. A screenshot of the headline offer alone is not enough if the key renewal language appears elsewhere in the checkout flow.
What the 2024 Act Is Designed to Change
The subscription chapter of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 covers contracts that renew automatically or that start with a free or reduced-price period and then continue at a full or higher price unless the consumer acts.
Among the new regime's planned protections are stronger information requirements, reminder notices before certain renewal payments, and accessible arrangements for consumers to end subscription contracts. The legislation also contains provisions dealing with cooling-off rights in the subscription context.
These protections are not a claim that the whole regime is already in force in August 2026. The government said in its 2026 implementation response that it anticipates commencement in spring 2027.
The Evidence Trail Starts Before the Trial Does
- Save the original advertisement or landing page.
- Save the checkout screen showing the recurring price, if displayed.
- Keep the confirmation email and terms supplied at sign-up.
- Record the trial end date.
- Set a reminder before the trial converts.
- Keep proof of cancellation if you decide not to continue.
If the Trial Has Already Converted Into a Paid Subscription
First check the terms you accepted and the exact date on which the paid subscription began. If you believe the recurring charge does not match what you were told or what you agreed to, contact the trader promptly and put the dispute in writing.
Do not describe every forgotten cancellation as an unlawful charge. The legal position depends on what was disclosed, what you consented to, the contract terms, and which consumer rules apply.
What This Means for You
- Check the paid price before starting the trial, not after it converts.
- Keep the complete checkout record and terms.
- Calendar the exact end of the trial.
- Cancel using the stated method and save confirmation.
- In 2026, treat the DMCC 2024 subscription regime as forthcoming, not as a fully operative set of protections.
Related Kibbo Tools
Sources
- GOV.UK / Competition and Markets Authority — Writing a fair contract for customers. gov.uk
- Legislation.gov.uk — Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, subscription contracts notes. legislation.gov.uk
- GOV.UK — Government response on implementation of the new subscription contracts regime, 2026. gov.uk