Short answer. A membership site that bills yearly needs two reminders before every renewal and a fresh cooling-off notice at each renewal. Monthly members need a reminder at least every six months.
Membership sites often offer a discount for paying yearly, which puts them in the heaviest part of the draft Regulations: two renewal reminders plus a renewal cooling-off notice, every year.
- Yearly plans need an early and a final reminder before each renewal.
- A renewal starts a new 14-day cooling-off period, with its own separate notice.
- Gift or prepaid memberships that do not renew are generally out of scope.
Worked example: Annual membership
An annual member paying £120 a year from 1 March 2027.
| Date | Notice | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2027 | Full contract information | At sign-up |
| 1 March 2027 | Cooling-off notice | Cooling-off ends 15 March 2027 |
| 31 January 2028 | Early renewal reminder | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2028 |
| 23 February 2028 | Final renewal reminder | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2028 |
| 1 March 2028 | Renewal cooling-off notice | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2028. Cooling-off ends 15 March 2028 |
| 30 January 2029 | Early renewal reminder | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2029 |
| 22 February 2029 | Final renewal reminder | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2029 |
| 1 March 2029 | Renewal cooling-off notice | Payment of £120.00 on 1 March 2029. Cooling-off ends 15 March 2029 |
End-of-contract confirmation: Within 24 hours of an online cancellation.
Suggested checkout wording: We'll email you 30 days and again 7 days before each renewal. You can cancel online at any time.
Timings use our suggested defaults. The law doesn't fix the number of days; you choose a window and state it at checkout.
Questions
What if I offer monthly and yearly?
Each plan follows its own rules. A member who switches from monthly to yearly follows the yearly rules from the change.
Not legal advice. If unsure, check with an adviser.