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Free trials and renewals: the proposed renewal cooling-off period
legislation.gov.uk · GOV.UKLast checked 11 Nov 2026
One of the main changes in the new regime is a second cooling-off period at renewal. It is not yet in force.
Two cooling-off periods in the Act
- Initial cooling-off period: starts the day the contract is entered into and ends 14 days after that day (or, for goods, 14 days after the first supply of goods) (DMCC Act s.265(1)).
- Renewal cooling-off period: starts on the day a relevant renewal occurs and ends at the end of 14 days beginning with the day after (s.265(2)). GOV.UK describes this as after a free or discounted trial ends, or when a contract renews for 12 months or longer.
Refunds under the draft regulations
GOV.UK's notes say consumers would have 14 days after a trial or 12-month-plus contract auto-renews to cancel and receive a full or proportionate refund.
Today
None of this applies yet. The Act's sections are marked prospective and the regulations are still a draft. Until then, use the existing 14-day cooling-off rules and cancel before a trial converts.
Quick answers
If my free trial converted, do I get 14 days now?
Not under the new regime yet. It is not in force as of 11 November 2026. Check the existing rules and the company's own terms.
When would this start?
The draft regulations name 1 January 2027; GOV.UK's April 2026 release said spring 2027.