Two-thirds of British people are ‘trapped’ in long-term contracts that they cannot cancel

A survey of 2,000 people has found that one in three UK residents regret entering into certain contracts.

At the top of the list of regrettable commitments were gym memberships, mobile phone contracts and broadband deals, which the British signed only to have to fight to get out.

Charitable donations via direct debit, healthcare and slimming subscriptions and personal loans are also in the top 20 regrettable schemes, yet as many as two in five Brits continue to repeatedly sign up for things they later regret.

In an intriguing initiative, mobile operator SMARTY launched a unique legal clinic near London’s bustling King’s Cross, aimed at helping people trapped in long-term contracts.

Attorney Sandy Joseph traded the courtroom for coffee and provided invaluable advice on how to avoid unwanted obligations and contract jargon. She commented: “I know some contracts can be tricky to navigate, with unnecessary jargon, confusing clauses and pages and pages of terms and conditions.”

The SMARTY-commissioned research further found that an astonishing 42% fail to scrutinize the fine print, later finding themselves trapped in less-than-ideal deals when better options existed elsewhere.

Nearly half have fallen victim to automatic subscription renewals they forgot about, while 17% were hit with early cancellation fees.

Furthermore, a worrying 33% feel they have been backed into a corner with contracts that have failed to deliver on their promises, prompting an overwhelming 84% to call for more flexibility in future agreements to freely break their obligations at their discretion , cancel or change.

Commenting on the findings, Sayed Hajamaideen of SMARTY mobile expressed the public’s annoyance: “There is nothing more annoying than regretting contracts. We know people want more flexibility, and because many are stuck in contracts they want to get out of, we are on a mission to inform the public that there are better options.”