Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Thirteenth sitting)

Debate between Giles Watling and Seema Malhotra

Committee stage
Tuesday 4th July 2023 Public Bill Committees

[Seema Malhotra]

Clause 254 sets out that the trader must comply with certain terms in every subscription contract they enter into, and various information is given about what is expected. We welcome the inclusion of clauses 254 and 255 in the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 254 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 255 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 256

Right to cancel during cooling-off periods

[Giles Watling]

I beg to move amendment 113, in clause 256, page 170, line 22, leave out “any circumstances” and insert

“circumstances where the consumer has not yet made use of the goods or service provided under the contract”.

I had intended to withdraw this amendment, because I received assurances from the Minister that the Government will take this issue seriously. I tabled it because of concerns about the length of cooling-off periods. People can join a service, binge watch an entire series, resign, and then go back again and again. The Minister assured me about that, but I look forward to hearing his comments.