Burnham brings forward ban on 'subscription traps'

newsAug 10, 20262691

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has brought forward a package of consumer protections to outlaw so-called subscription traps and curb misleading retail pricing. Businesses will have to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders and much easier ways for customers to exit contracts, and firms must make it clear when contracts auto-renew at a higher price. Burnham is also vowing to stop retailers using misleading "was" prices, invented discounts and misleading recommended retail prices; a government consultation on implementation will open this autumn. The measures, first announced under Sir Keir Starmer in April, were expected to take effect next spring but will now be implemented by January 2027. When announced in April the government estimated the changes would save consumers £400 million a year, or up to £170 per person, and cited 10 million unwanted active subscriptions, including more than 3.5 million quietly rolled from trials and 1.3 million hit by unexpected auto-renewals. Consumer group Which? welcomed the move, while shadow chancellor Mel Stride called the measures "reheated" and said the prime minister "has already run out of ideas."

Real Gaz on a proper bike: [email protected]

@gazza-d.bsky.social

Burnham once again sweating the small and easy stuff, whilst ignoring difficult things like the climate emergency was the UK plunges into a 5th heatwave of the summer with crops failing because of the drought. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

285h ago

Real Gaz on a proper bike: [email protected]7

Perhaps it's unfair to say Burnham is ignoring the climate emergency as reports have been suggesting he's planning on allowing more oil extraction. Which will only make things worse.

Urbane Cyclist3

He is trying to control the news cycle, introducing policies everyday. Some will be big most smaller. I agree most of the policies seem trivial, but he is giving an impression that he listening to the gen pub. Compare to Starmer, who didn't. Toast.

kevjs1982.uk1

The small and easy stuff is small and easy to do, while also building the political capital needed for the more controversial* stuff. It's also been the stuff in his wheelhouse too. Hopefully this summer is full of people like Milliband successfully making the case that dealing with the climate

Cobie Cipher Triangulation Agency

@cobieef.bsky.social

Apparently, Andy Burnham is planning to start a tour round the country to hear voters' concerns this week. Trans people and orgs should be there every step of the way, if possible, to tell him transphobia is unacceptable and bog off with his bathroom ban!

16Yesterday

Chamber UK

@chamberuk.bsky.social

Prime Minister, @andyburnham.bsky.social is bringing forward a crackdown on “subscription traps” as part of his cost-of-living drive. From January 2027, businesses will have to make subscriptions easier to cancel, provide clearer information on auto-renewals, & give customers regular reminders. 1/2

73h ago

LuxJude352

@luxjude352.bsky.social

“The government will ban misleading pricing practices that retailers use to make discounts appear better than they really are, including fake “was” prices, invented reductions and misleading recommended retail prices.” #r4today

55h ago

clamplifier

@clamplifier.bsky.social

burnham to announce a ban those machines at coffee shops where they turn them around and ask you to choose one of three tips

61h ago

Vince

@vincexy798.bsky.social

BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... It may be reheated but brought in quicker. But the Tories let prices rip blaming external factors when they could have done measures like Burnham. Doing nothing when they could have acted is no answer & Brexit adding 3%!

52h ago

Rodney Marques

@rodneymarques.bsky.social

He's reannouncing a Starmer plan that includes 'a crackdown on "pretend prices"'. Is it safe to be exposed to these levels of unfiltered irony?

55h ago

Press Gazette

@pressgazette.co.uk

The opposition came from News Media Association, PPA and others. More on Burnham's plans: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

43h ago

Brekkie

@brekkiebb.bsky.social

24 month contracts as standard need to be banned along with mid-contract price rises. BBC News - Burnham brings forward ban on 'subscription traps' to ease cost of living www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

24h ago

Claire S (UK not USA)

@csav55.eurosky.social

I don't want to be churlish but this is yet again something which is already in progress. I'm loving the addition to Gov.UK links highlighting when and by which Labour PM policies were announced. Burnham may be proposing to speed it up but the hard work was done by Starmer.

Screenshot of Gov.UK policy published in 2024-2026 cracking down on subscription traps

32h ago

Unofficial CP24 Mirror

@cp24-mirror.bsky.social

U.K. PM Burnham vows to end ‘subscription traps’ amid cost-of-living crisis

33h ago

Daniel1

This will surely tackle the cost of energy and inflation

Quoting this

รℓσαɳε ℓყรɓεƭɦ 🏳️‍🌈29

if i have to see this super affected touching his glasses 'im smart' pose one more time im going to scream. andy burnham is a fraud. he's all mouth.

Callum Parrish

@callumparrish.bsky.social

The Prime Minister has announced that he will be rolling out a series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help people with the cost of living, kicking off with two measures tomorrow.

112h ago

Sailesh

@saileshpatel.bsky.social

Yet again asking, why do we have an Online Safety Act if it’s not going to be used to ban X? We all know what the problem is, but cowardly Burnham won’t do anything about it

312h ago

Hermit the Frog

@thatsnotfox.bsky.social

The main thing ripping off Britain is billionaire corporate interests. Subscription traps are a small speck on the cost-of-living crisis driven by the greed of these hoarding wealth dragons. We need a wealth tax. We need to bring utilities back into public ownership. We need rent controls.

2h ago

Gwynoro

@gwynoro.bsky.social

Burnham to bring forward ban on 'subscription traps' to ease cost of living - another one of Starmer government projects m, just like the majority of his other announcements over the last 3 weeks. Little wonder he’s having an easy summer time! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

7h ago

1 source

bbc.co.ukBurnham brings forward ban on 'subscription traps' to ease cost of living

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Burnham brings forward ban on 'subscription traps'

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