A poll of 2,000 adults has revealed the top 20 contracts people regret signing
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed that a third of Brits have regretted signing up to a particular contract.
Gym memberships, mobile phone and internet service provider contracts topped the list of agreements people have signed up to and found it hard to escape.
Charity direct debits, fitness or weight loss programmes and personal loans also feature in the top 20 list, yet two fifths still frequently find themselves wishing they hadn’t signed up for things.
To help those who have found themselves stuck in contracts that were difficult to terminate, mobile provider SMARTY set up a legal clinic, with a twist, outside London’s King’s Cross station.
Barrister-turned-barista, Sandy Joseph, was on hand to offer a hand to Brits on how to navigate tricky contracts and avoid any contracts they might sign up to but later regret.
The contractual disputes barrister, who was tending the brand’s pop up, said: “I know that some contracts can be tricky to navigate, with unnecessary jargon, confusing clauses and pages and pages of terms and conditions.”
The study, commissioned by SMARTY, also unveiled that almost half the population have rushed into contracts without fully grasping what they’re getting into.
A staggering 42% don’t look into the small print, only to later discover better deals elsewhere and realise they’re stuck in unfavourable agreements.
The research revealed that 49% of consumers have been trapped by a sneaky subscription renewal that they’d forgotten about, while 17% were hit with early cancellation fees.
Additionally, a concerning 33% felt stuck with a contract that didn’t live up to the hype, prompting a whopping 84% to demand more freedom in future agreements so they can pause, cancel, or amend their contracts as they wish.
Sayed Hajamaideen, from SMARTY mobile, said: “There’s nothing more annoying than contract regret. We know people want more flexibility, and with many finding themselves locked into contracts they want to get out of, we’re on a mission to educate the public that there are better options out there.”
TOP 20 CONTRACTS PEOPLE REGRET SIGNING:
- Gym
- Mobile phone network provider contract
- Internet service provider
- Mobile phone handset
- TV or streaming service bundles
- Personal loan agreements
- Extended warranty on a white good like a washing machine
- Music streaming services
- Energy supplier contracts
- Fitness or weight loss programmes
- Subscription boxes
- Magazine or newspaper subscription
- Mortgage
- Charitable direct debit
- Credit card promotional offers
- Car lease
- Property lease/rent
- Video game subscription like Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus
- Health or life insurance policies
- Extended car warranty