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Have you ever signed up for a free sample product, got an unused gym membership or paying for a streaming service that has gone unwatched? It turns out that you might be shelling out more than you think for goods that you never use.

Now, as part of National Consumer Week, Citizens Advice and UK European Consumer Centre are warning 40 million UK consumers who have a subscription that while it may be easy to sign up for these services, they can be difficult to get out of. They are also urging people to aware of the terms and conditions of contracts before signing up.

According to Citizens Advice, consumers paid an average of £160 over three months towards unwanted subscriptions like gym memberships, television, insurance and online streaming services.

Between June and August 2017, nine out of 10 people were initially refused by the company when they tried to cancel their subscriptions, by asking for more notice (of up to six months in some cases) or telling people they needed to cancel through a specific route, such as phone or email.

One person who contacted the Citizens Advice consumer service said they tried to cancel a subscription after they were made redundant at work only to be asked for proof from their employer, including a P45. However, under the Consumer Rights Act, no business can enforce terms on a consumer that are deemed unfair.

The UK ECC also received 39 complaints in the first eight months of 2017 about 'classic subscription traps' from consumers who had thought they were getting a good deal and found out in reality that they weren't.

Andy Allen, UK ECC service director, had this caution for consumers: 'Very few, if any companies, will offer you a trial of anything unless it is going to lead on to further purchases and this is often done by an automatic renewal system which places the responsibility on the customer to actively cancel an ongoing contract. In most of these cases the customer doesn't realise what is happening until they notice continued payments disappearing from their bank accounts.'

Leon Livermore, Chief Executive of Chartered Trading Standards Institute, added: 'Knowing your rights allows for better informed decisions. Consumers should consider those whenever they subscribe to a new offering. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is.'

What should you do?
You do have a legal right to cancel unwanted contracts - but it's not always easy.

People shopping online within Europe are protected by the Consumer Contracts Regulations which came into force in June 2014. They state that a consumer needs to actively 'tick' a box to say they agree to any further payments (pre-ticked boxes are banned) and if a consumer is not made aware of any further charges, they are not liable for them.

Your first step is to contact the retailer directly with a request to cancel your payments. Ask your bank to put a stop to it too. If the retailer refuses your bank is legally obliged to cancel the payment. For further help, complain to the Financial Ombudsman who will be able to help you with your claim.

Check your credit card statement for any recurring payments. With debit cards, look for any regular payments that are not coming out as direct debits or standing orders.

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Four ways to prevent future subscription problems

1. Pay by Direct Debit
A Direct Debit is much easier to cancel than a continuous payment. The Direct Debit Guarantee also means that if you make an incorrect payment your bank must refund you the full amount.

2. Pay manually if you can
If the company will let you, pay the amount owed each month manually yourself. Yes, it's more hassle but it's a safer way to pay.

3. Remember you've got a cooling off period if you buy online
If you bought the subscription online, the law says you usually have 14 days to get your money back if you change your mind. However, you might not be able to get a refund if you start using the service straight away.

4. Check what your cancellation rights are
Each supplier can set their own cancellation policy and they don't need to offer you a right to cancel your subscription early. Make sure the terms and conditions look reasonable before signing up.

MORE: THE INSURANCES YOU NEED AND THOSE YOU REALLY DON'T

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