Ending subscriptions: the law is now on your side

Signing up for a gym, streaming service, or mobile contract in Germany used to mean you were locked in for years. Since the Fair Consumer Contracts Act came into force in 2022, that has changed radically. Now the law works for you: online subscription services must provide a simple cancellation button, and after your initial term ends, the contract can only roll over month-to-month with a minimum notice period.

The Kündigungsbutton: Your Right to Cancel Online

Since July 1, 2022, any company offering a subscription or recurring service through its website must provide a cancellation button—what Germans call the Kündigungsbutton. This applies to gyms, Netflix, Spotify, O2 mobile plans, and dozens of other services. The law does not distinguish between paid monthly services and one-time payments: if you enter into a contract for continuous services online, there must be a way to cancel it via the website.

The button is not optional decoration—it is a legal requirement under Section 312k of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, or BGB, Germany's civil code. Complying with this rule is the responsibility of every business offering online subscriptions to consumers in Germany.

What the Button Must Look Like

The law requires a two-click cancellation process. The first control must be clearly labeled—typically with wording like 'Cancel contract here' or 'End subscription'—and must be permanently visible and easily accessible on your account page or the main website. When you click it, you arrive at a confirmation page that shows key contract details and offers a second button, usually labeled 'Cancel now' or similar. Clicking that confirms your cancellation. The entire process must be as simple as signing up was.

Recent court rulings have emphasized that the button must be truly easy to find and understand. A password prompt, a login requirement, or a confusing contact form does not satisfy the law. Companies are not allowed to hide the button behind multiple clicks, bury it in a contact form, or make the cancellation assistant more prominent than the actual cancellation button. The cancellation function must be immediately obvious to any consumer.

Immediate Confirmation

The moment you click that final 'cancel' button, the cancellation takes effect. The company must send you an email confirmation immediately—not days later. Screenshot the confirmation button and the final confirmation page. Keep these as proof, because they prove you cancelled in time and via the correct channel. If you ever need to dispute whether your cancellation went through, that screenshot is your evidence.

The Death of the 12-Month Auto-Renewal

Before 2022, the typical German subscription contract worked like this: you signed up for 24 months, and if you did not send a registered letter or fax three months before expiry, your contract automatically rolled over for another 12 months. This trap caught thousands of expats and distracted residents every year.

The Fair Consumer Contracts Act ended that practice. For any contract signed after March 1, 2022, a crucial rule now applies: after your initial term ends, the contract cannot automatically renew for a fixed period. Instead, it must roll over into an indefinite contract (also called an 'open-ended' contract) that either party can cancel at any time with one month's notice.

Initial Commitment: Still Up to 24 Months, But With New Safeguards

Companies can still require an initial commitment. Most gyms and mobile providers still offer 24-month contracts because they offer lower monthly rates in exchange for your commitment. That is legal. However, that 24-month lock-in applies only to your very first contract term. During that period, you cannot cancel early unless the contract explicitly allows it (for example, gym members who relocate are often permitted to exit early).

The critical change is what happens when that initial 24 months end. Before the reform, your contract would automatically extend for another year or more. Now, the law says it must convert to an indefinite contract, cancellable with just one month's notice. You no longer need to remember an obscure deadline or worry about missing a three-month cancellation window.

Notice Period Before First Expiry: Maximum One Month

If you want to cancel before your initial term ends—say, you signed a 24-month gym contract but are moving away after 18 months—you can do so with one month's notice. The law has abolished the old three-month notice period that used to lock you in. Check your contract's AGB (Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen, or general terms and conditions) to confirm the exact deadline, but legally, a notice period longer than one month before the end of the initial term is now invalid.

Practical Steps: How to Cancel Properly

Find and Use the Cancellation Button

Log into your account on the provider's website. Look for a link or button labeled 'Cancel contract,' 'End subscription,' or something similar—usually in your account settings or billing section. Click it. Follow the two-step confirmation process. You should be able to complete cancellation without needing to call anyone, email anyone, or file a formal letter.

Document Everything

• Take a screenshot of the cancellation button itself and the URL it appears on. This proves the company had the button available.
• Take a screenshot of the confirmation page after you click 'cancel now.' This shows the date and time you submitted the cancellation.
• Save or forward the email confirmation the company sends you. File it in a folder or cloud storage labeled with the company and service name.
• Write down the date, time, and what you did in a simple note. If there is ever a dispute, this timeline helps.

These screenshots are your insurance policy. They prove to the company—and to a Verbraucherzentrale (consumer protection center) or court, if needed—that you cancelled via the proper channel and on the correct date.

Understand Notice Periods

When you cancel online, you are submitting your notice of cancellation. The company's terms should specify how many days' notice must be given before the cancellation takes effect. For example, if your contract says 'cancellation takes effect at the end of the calendar month with 14 days' notice,' and you submit your cancellation on June 20th, your subscription will end on July 31st. Read your terms to understand the exact timing, but the notice period itself should not exceed one month once your initial term is over.

What If the Cancellation Button Is Missing or Broken?

If a company has failed to provide a proper cancellation button, German law gives you extraordinary protection. You can cancel the contract at any time, without notice, and the contract ends immediately. You owe no further payment. This is a strong incentive for companies to comply with the law, and it means you should never feel trapped by a company's failure to follow the rules.

Watch Out for Old Contracts

The new rules apply to contracts signed on or after March 1, 2022. If you signed your gym or streaming contract before that date, it may still fall under the old rules: automatic renewal for 12 months unless you cancel with three months' notice. Check the signature date on your contract or your provider's website. If it is from 2021 or earlier, you are likely operating under the old regime, so be extra careful about deadlines. If it is from March 2022 onward, the one-month rolling renewal rule applies and you have much more flexibility.

Special Cases: What the Law Does Not Cover

The Kündigungsbutton rule does not apply to all contracts. Insurance policies, loan agreements, and financial services have their own regulations. Mobile and broadband contracts are covered by additional telecom-specific rules. Contracts that must be signed in a special legal form—such as a qualified electronic signature—are exempt. And very old contracts or those concluded outside of electronic commerce may fall outside the scope. When in doubt, contact the company's customer service or a local Verbraucherzentrale.

If a Company Refuses to Honor Your Cancellation

If a provider claims they never received your cancellation or tries to charge you after you have cancelled, document it. Gather your screenshots, the company's response emails, and any billing statements. Contact the Verbraucherzentrale in your Bundesland—they offer free legal advice to consumers and can send a formal warning letter to the company. Many Verbraucherzentralen also pursue violations of Section 312k on behalf of consumers. If the company is uncooperative, you may need to consult a lawyer, but in most cases, the company backs down once the threat of a complaint to the consumer protection authority is made.