🔁 Can I cancel an auto-renewing subscription and stop paying?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes, you can cancel the subscription — the widespread myth that "once the contract renewed itself automatically, you are tied in for another year and can do nothing" is false. Under the Civil Code, a consumer who has entered an open-ended services contract has the right to terminate it unilaterally, and the consumer's silence or inaction is not consent to keep buying. A term that lets a business automatically extend a fixed-term contract without clear notice, making it harder to leave, may be found unfair and does not bind the consumer. If the subscription was concluded at a distance (online), the first purchase usually carries a 14-day right of withdrawal. Most importantly, and often overlooked: the burden of proving that the consumer truly agreed to continue lies with the seller, not the consumer, so money taken automatically for a clearly cancelled service can be refunded.

📋 The rules

A consumer may terminate an open-ended services contract unilaterally, giving the notice set in the contract or the law
The consumer's silence or inaction is not consent to renew or to buy an extra service
A term letting a business auto-renew a fixed-term contract without clear notice may be held unfair and not binding
A new subscription made at a distance usually carries a 14-day right of withdrawal, no reason needed
The seller must prove the consumer agreed to continue; disputes are handled by VVTAT

🔓 Exceptions

You cannot retroactively cancel the part of a service already supplied and used (for example, last month) – that part must be paid for
Electronic communications contracts may set a minimum term (for example, 24 months) with early-termination fees during it
Consumer-protection rules do not apply to business-to-business contracts – only the contract terms themselves govern

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The main risk is not a fine but money quietly taken for a service you no longer use. If a subscription auto-renews and your card is charged, sums debited without a basis can be recovered: first by a written claim to the seller, and if refused, by turning to VVTAT, which handles consumer disputes out of court and free of charge. Often overlooked: a card payment can also be challenged through the bank (a chargeback) if the service was clearly cancelled yet money was still taken. A business that uses unfair auto-renewal terms or demands payment for an unordered continuation faces VVTAT orders to stop the breach and administrative liability for an unfair commercial practice. An uncancelled subscription is not in itself a debt for a bailiff, but invoices ignored for a long time may be passed to debt collectors, so it is worth terminating the contract in writing and keeping the confirmation.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I cancel a subscription that renewed automatically?

Yes, a consumer may terminate an open-ended services contract unilaterally, giving the notice set in the contract or the law. Automatic renewal does not remove this right, and an unfair renewal term does not bind the consumer at all, so you do not have to stay committed for another year.

Does staying silent mean I agreed to continue?

No, under the Civil Code a consumer's silence or inaction is not treated as consent to continue the contract or buy an extra service. The burden of proving that you expressed a wish to renew lies with the seller, so simply not cancelling in advance does not by itself oblige you to keep paying.

Does the 14-day withdrawal right apply to a subscription?

A newly concluded distance subscription usually carries a 14-day right of withdrawal without giving a reason. However, this right does not apply to digital content already fully supplied where you expressly agreed the supply could start early and acknowledged that you lose the withdrawal right.

What can I do if money keeps being taken?

First send the seller a written claim demanding the return of sums taken without a basis and an end to the payments. If the seller does not react, the payment can be challenged through your bank as a chargeback, and the consumer dispute can be taken to VVTAT, which handles it free of charge.

Can a business be liable for unfair renewal?

Yes, unfair auto-renewal terms do not bind the consumer, and applying them or demanding payment for an unordered continuation counts as an unfair commercial practice. VVTAT can order the business to stop the breach and impose administrative liability, so it is worth reporting the violation.

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