🔄 How do I cancel an auto-renewing subscription in Malta?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes, you can cancel — but the right depends on when and how you signed, not on "14 days after every renewal". Malta has no specific law forcing a business to send you a reminder before the subscription renews, unlike some other countries. The 14-day withdrawal right under S.L. 378.17 applies only to the original contract you make at a distance (online or by phone) or off the trader's premises — not to each automatic renewal that follows. The real tool is the unfair term: under Cap. 378, an auto-renewal clause that creates a significant imbalance — a long lock-in, a difficult exit, or unreasonable notice — does not bind you. The myth: that "my silence ties me in forever". Silence is not consent, and an unfair clause is void. A dispute can go to the Consumer Claims Tribunal for claims up to €3,500.

📋 The rules

The 14-day withdrawal right (S.L. 378.17) applies to the original distance or off-premises contract — not to each later automatic renewal.
Under Cap. 378, an unfair term that creates a significant imbalance in the consumer's rights does not bind you and can be disregarded.
Malta has no statutory duty for a business to send a reminder before renewal; you must track the restart date yourself.
Cancellation must follow the contract terms — usually written notice before the renewal date.
A dispute over a charge or an unfair clause can go to the Consumer Claims Tribunal (up to €3,500) or the MCCAA.

🔓 Exceptions

If you signed the contract physically on the trader's premises, you have no 14-day distance withdrawal — that applies only to distance or off-premises sales.
A digital service that began with your express consent before the 14 days end can reduce or remove your withdrawal right.
A renewal clause that is clear, reasonable and easy to exit is not automatically unfair — the imbalance must be significant to break it.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The biggest cost is the one you don't see: charges that keep leaving your card or account after you thought you had stopped everything. If you don't cancel in time under the terms, the business can insist on the whole new period, and an unpaid amount can end up with a debt-collection agency or leave a mark on your payment history. But an unfair renewal clause under Cap. 378 does not bind you: you can reclaim charges taken on a void term, and the MCCAA can act against a business that uses unfair terms or misleading practices. Keep every cancellation email as proof of the date — without it, it is your word against theirs. Moving your card to a new one does not automatically stop a continuous payment mandate; you have to cancel the subscription itself.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I cancel a subscription at any time?

It depends on the terms: beyond the 14-day withdrawal period on the original contract, you can only cancel under the agreed conditions, usually with notice before the renewal date. A clause that ties you in unreasonably or makes the exit difficult can be unfair under Cap. 378 and therefore not binding on you.

Must the business remind me before renewal?

No, Malta has no specific law forcing a business to send you a reminder before the subscription renews, unlike certain other countries. It is therefore your responsibility to remember the renewal date and cancel in time if you no longer want to continue with the service.

Does the 14-day withdrawal apply to every renewal?

No, the 14-day withdrawal right applies only once, when you enter the original contract at a distance or off the premises. The automatic renewal that follows is not a new distance contract, so that right does not arise again with each new period.

They charged me after I cancelled — what do I do?

First gather the proof: the cancellation email or form with the date, and the contract terms. Then request a refund directly, and if they refuse, file a complaint with the MCCAA or a claim before the Consumer Claims Tribunal for up to €3,500.

Is an auto-renewal clause always unfair?

No, it is not automatically unfair: a clear clause with reasonable notice and an easy way out can be perfectly valid. It becomes unfair only when it creates a significant imbalance against the consumer, for example with a long lock-in or a cancellation process made deliberately hard.

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