Since Friday 1er September 2023, all companies offering online or physical subscription offers are required to offer a termination of the contract(s) with just a few clicks.
This time, the exaggeration is allowed, so you will forgive us if we speak here of a “revolution” in the world of contracts. From 1er September, the principle ardently defended by the government of termination in three clicks is supposed to apply. This will be the case for subscriptions that have been taken out online as well as those concluded in person.
Termination in 3 clicks, all subscription services are concerned
The measure was originally due to come into effect on 1er June. This is certainly what was initially planned in the context of the application of the 2022 law on purchasing power, but the government had taken the trouble to leave three additional months for all professionals. The time for the companies that make you take out contracts to comply with the new regulations and update their site(s).
This is now done, thanks to the new article L215-1-1 of the Consumer Code. As soon as a contract has been concluded electronically or by another means, in a store for example, the consumer must have a visible and free functionality available to him to terminate the said contract in the simplest way. In this way, the opt-out process should become as simple as the opt-in process.
In appearance, it may be a button, which must be able to appear on all the pages (and not only that of the customer account, important precision) of the site, the platform or the service on which you are subscribed. This may be, and the list is not exhaustive, a streaming service, a video game platform, a gym, an information site or other platforms offering services or rental. As long as you are under subscription, you must be able to cancel in 3 clicks at most.
An unsubscribe button that should be visible at a glance
So we’re talking about a button, but what form should it take? This does not have a single form: each professional can obviously adapt it, but it must remain visible, and clicking on it must be able to bring the consumer directly to a cancellation page. The button can be named ” Cancel your contract », « Unsubscribe », « Cancel your subscription (as it already exists on Netflix) or any other equivalent formula.
The measure should help the French to overcome the sometimes colossal obstacles of termination, and thus have greater freedom of consumption. It will also allow them, perhaps, to make savings more easily, by bringing more competition into play. Professionals could also gain, with greater competitiveness.
Finally, note that if a company takes the risk of not complying with the new regulations, it incurs an administrative fine of up to 75,000 euros in fines (15,000 euros for a natural person).
Source : Legifrance
31