How we pay £50 a month on subscriptions we don’t want

THEy are the special offers, free trials and introductory rates that seem too good to turn down.

But it has emerged that Scots are wasting an average of £50 month on unwanted subscriptions such as gym memberships, television packages and insurance.

Researchers have found that consumers are paying out for contracts they cannot cancel after falling into ‘hidden subscription traps’ set by companies.

The study – carried out by consumer groups – discovered firms are making it increasingly difficult for customers to end contracts and exploiting rules that allow them to increase monthly payments without notice. Citizens Advice Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland have urged people to read the terms and conditions more carefully when signing up.

The groups also warned that many people are unaware of the practice of ‘continuous payment authority’, which allows a trader to change the amount a consumer pays without notification. Citizens Advice Scotland’s head of policy Susan McPhee said: ‘Subscriptions are very easy to sign up to, but can be difficult to get out of. Often you can find you have signed up to something you didn’t even know you had agreed to.’

Fiona Richardson, chief officer for Trading Standards Scotland, said: ‘Before you agree to anything, always make sure you that check your cancellation rights.’