Skip to main content

Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 March 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 March 2018 (named day). It was answered by Andrew Griffiths (Conservative) on Friday, 16 March 2018 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.


Subscriptions: Repayments

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on consumers' rights to request a refund if they were not made aware that they were on an auto-renewal contract for subscription-based services.

Answer

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 makes clear that terms and conditions need to be prominent and transparent, when a business offers a subscription service or other long-standing rolling type of agreement otherwise they are open to challenge.

Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs), traders must from the outset provide consumers with clear and important information in relation to subscription charges and renewal information, so that they can make an informed decision. Automatic renewals without sufficient reminders can be deemed as unfair terms.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
132391
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Consumers Repayments Unfair practices Subscriptions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk