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No more surprise charges from Netflix, Spotify and other subscriptions
New law in Spain means companies must give customers 15 days' notice before a contract renews
If you’ve ever been caught out by an unexpected subscription renewal, help is on the way. A new law in Spain will soon require companies like Spotify, Netflix, gyms and magazines to let customers know 15 days before their current plan is due to renew.The change is part of a wider update to Spain’s customer service rules. It aims to give people a fair chance to cancel if they no longer want the service.
“This measure is primarily intended to prevent automatic renewals of subscriptions to applications that consumers have even forgotten they were subscribed to,” said parliamentary sources.
The proposal will be included in the customer service bill, which is being brought forward by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The draft was originally presented to Congress in February 2024 is now in its final stage. Full approval is expected soon.
Once it becomes law, companies will need to send a clear notice explaining that a contract is about to renew and what will happen if the customer does not cancel. According to those behind the change, “They seek to ensure that consumers make informed purchases.”
It is not the only improvement on the way. The bill also includes new rules to improve how companies handle customer service. These include a three minute limit on how long someone should wait on the phone and a ban on phone providers using machines as the only option for customer support. Firms will also need to respond to complaints within 15 days.
The Ministry, led by Pablo Bustinduy, says the goal is to make sure customer service in Spain is clearer, quicker and more helpful.
So if you have a subscription coming up for renewal, it is worth checking your messages – and enjoying a bit more control over what you pay for.
Image: freestocks/Pexels
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