Subscriptions, and how to get out of them
Most writing about subscriptions is in dollars, about American banks and American law. This is for people paying in euros.
The EU cancel button: why making you send an email is now illegal
Since 19 June 2026 every trader selling online to EU consumers must show a working withdrawal button. Here is what it has to look like and what to do when it is missing.
Meet Suby, the agent that can actually see your subscriptions
A general chatbot can explain what a subscription is. Suby knows what yours cost, when they renew, and can open the right screen for you — without being allowed to touch anything on its own.
You get one withdrawal window, not two — unless they never told you
The most misunderstood rule in subscriptions: a free trial converting to paid does not restart your 14 days. The exception that gives them back is the part worth knowing.
How cancelling works in Germany, France and the Netherlands
The EU sets the floor; member states build on it differently. Three of the biggest markets, and the local rule that decides whether you are out.
Cancelling through your bank — and the three times it backfires
Revoking a SEPA mandate or blocking a card is the nuclear option. It stops the money and leaves the contract running. When it works, and when it costs you.
The best subscription trackers in Europe, 2026
Most roundups in this category are written in dollars about US banks. This one is about what actually connects to a European account.
Annual or monthly: what prepaying actually saves
Annual billing is usually cheaper per month and almost always worse if you cancel. The break-even is earlier than people think.
One email when the rules change
European subscription law is moving. We write when something changes that affects what you can cancel, and not otherwise.
Three ways to find every subscription you are paying for
Bank connection, mailbox scan, statement upload. They find different things, and the overlap is smaller than you would expect.
The cancellation dark patterns that are already illegal in the EU
Confirmshaming, the loop that returns you to the start, the offer you cannot decline without a phone call. Most of it is already covered by existing law.
What your bank statement will not tell you
Merchant descriptors are written by the acquirer, not the brand. That is why a service you know appears under a name you have never seen.
Rotation, not cancellation
You do not need four streaming services at once. You need one at a time, in the right order, and something that remembers to switch.