LONDON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday announced measures to crack down on misleading discounts and subscription traps as part of efforts to ease cost-of-living pressures.
According to an announcement issued by the British government, under the plans, the government will seek to stop retailers from using practices such as artificially raising prices before advertising discounts.
A consultation will be launched this autumn on whether such practices should be explicitly banned under existing consumer protection law, the announcement added.
New subscription rules will also take effect in January 2027, requiring businesses to provide clearer information, renewal reminders and easier cancellation. Consumers will also be given a 14-day cooling-off period after certain contracts are renewed.
The government said Britain has around 155 million active subscriptions, with consumers spending an estimated 1.6 billion pounds (2.15 billion U.S. dollars) a year on unwanted subscriptions.
Burnham said the measures were the first in a series of what the government calls "everyday fixes" aimed at reducing pressures on household finances.
"We're putting an end to phoney bargains. If something is advertised as half price, it should actually be half price. We're also making it as easy to leave a subscription as it is to join," he said. ■
