Have any of your subscription prices gone up lately? The UK is working on a law that could save users £170 ($225) a year by canceling unwanted subscriptions. However, it’s easier said than done.

The UK government is working on changes related to subscription cancellation and unwanted auto-renewals.

The new rules, expected to take effect in spring 2027, are intended to protect consumers from “unwanted and misleading subscriptions.”

What’s more, it’s supposed to save consumers around £400 million annually, reports the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

The government also announced new rules intended to make it easier for users to break from unwanted services and save money.

These rules include requiring companies to provide users with “clear, simple information before signing up to any subscription.”

Users should also be reminded that their free trial is ending before the end of the period, and that an automatic contract renewal will begin.

DBT also notes that the cancellation process should be “straightforward,” meaning users shouldn’t have to make multiple calls to break off the subscription.

Users should also be given a “14-day cooling-off period” after the free trial ends or the contract renews.

The UK government notes that 3.5 million people end up paying for services after being “quietly” enrolled from a free trial. Over 1.3 million customers notice only after a while that their accounts are on automatic renewal.

While it might seem that a few pounds won’t make a difference, that’s not entirely the case, especially with various streaming platforms raising their prices.

DBT notes that by canceling subscription services they don’t actually use, users could save around £14 a month, or nearly £170 a year.

Considering the rising cost of living, Sue Davies, the head of consumer rights policy at Which?, a non-profit organization focused on consumers, said, “Subscription traps can be costly and wreak havoc on finances.”

Last week, Netflix announced it would raise subscription prices across all plans globally.

Users in the US who use an ad-supported plan will now pay $9 per month, up by $1. Standard plan users will see a $2 increase, bringing the subscription price to $20. The premium plan now costs $27, instead of $25.

In the UK, Netflix prices range from £6 to £19 per month.

Netflix isn’t the only streaming platform that has decided to raise its prices.

At the beginning of the year, Spotify increased the pricing of its monthly subscription plan by $1 to $12.99. The reason behind this increase is to keep providing users with “a great experience.”

The price increase didn’t just affect streaming prices. Recently, Sony announced it will update the prices of its PlayStation 5 products.

The new price tags reveal that the same Sony gaming consoles will be sold for $100 more. The company shared that the reason for this decision is to ensure it can deliver users “innovative, high-quality gaming experiences.”

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