At first glance, the government’s crackdown on so-called “subscription traps” is exactly the kind of intervention consumers have been crying out for. Clearer sign-ups, reminder notices before you’re charged, easier cancellations and a 14-day cooling-off period when a contract renews.

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Frankly, it’s common sense, because right now, millions of people are being quietly rolled from “free trials” into expensive contracts, often without realising until the money has already left their account. To put this into perspective, nearly 10 million subscriptions in the UK are unwanted, costing consumers an eye-watering £1.6 billion a year.

So yes, this is a win. But here’s the uncomfortable question: if we know all of this, why are consumers being told to wait until 2027? That’s........

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