As of the 19th of August 2025 your customers will be able to self cancel their subscriptions (ongoing). Previously, all ThriveCart accounts had this enabled by default.
ThriveCart Pro+ users will be now be able to disable self-cancellation for customers outside of specific regions.
Split-pay and Subscriptions (limited) will not allow customer self-cancellation* by default. These are typically used in scenarios of a contractual agreement between yourself and your customer to complete the full payment amount.
The European Union has established comprehensive consumer protection laws that govern subscription services and make it easier for consumers to cancel unwanted subscriptions. Our platform ensures full compliance with these existing EU regulations by providing mandatory self-cancellation capabilities for all EU customers.
Further governments around the world are introducing new regulations to help protect consumers from “subscription traps” and make it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions. ThriveCart is responding proactively to these changes with updates that ensure compliance across all major markets.
Whilst recently blocked by a US court, the FTC were also looking to bring in similar regulations across the US, and it’s possible they still may.
Additionally, the UK is looking to bring in similar changes in 2026 and Australia is currently working through regulations of their own.
ThriveCart will continue to monitor and update accordingly.
Now, preventing customers from self-cancelling in certain regions is disabled. However, for consumers outside of specific regions you will be able to disable customer self-cancellation requiring the customer to contact you before being able to cancel (ThriveCart Pro+ feature).
“Make it as easy for people to withdraw from your program as it was to sign up. That means people have to be able to find your cancellation method quickly and easily. It should be offered through the same medium (online, phone, etc.) people used to sign up, and it shouldn’t be overly burdensome.”
Affected Regions
Right now, ThriveCart is offering the regulation support in the following regions:
- The European Union
What the Regulations Are
European Union Consumer Rights Directive
The EU’s Consumer Rights Directive gives consumers the same strong rights across the EU, harmonizing national consumer rules on information requirements and cancellation rights for online purchases.
Key EU protections include:
- 14-day withdrawal rights for most goods and services purchased remotely within the European Union, including subscribing to online services
- EU-wide requirements for suppliers to inform consumers in a clear and comprehensible way about contract terms, including automatic renewals
- Requirements under the European Digital Services Act (DSA) that all European online platforms must guarantee that unsubscribing from their services is as easy as the registration process
- Existing rules that prohibit companies from making cancellation processes confusing or difficult, covered under the Consumer Rights Directive and Unfair Commercial Practices Directive
Recent Legal Clarifications
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) clarified in October 2023 that consumers only have one withdrawal window for subscription contracts with free trials, provided they were clearly informed about post-trial charges. However, if consumers are not adequately informed about contract details, they retain the right to cancel when the subscription transitions into a paid service.
Why We’re Making This Change
Consumer protection is fundamental to EU legislation. Non-compliance with DSA regulations regarding subscription cancellation is punishable by a fine of up to 6% of your annual revenue, making compliance not just ethically important but financially critical.
ThriveCart automatically enables self-cancellation capabilities for all EU customers to:
- Ensure Legal Compliance: Meet existing EU Consumer Rights Directive requirements and DSA obligations
- Protect Your Business: Avoid potential fines and legal issues in EU markets
- Improve User Experience: Provide the transparent, easy cancellation process EU consumers expect
- Build Trust: Demonstrate commitment to fair business practices across European markets
For our Pro+ users using Stripe Connect+ on your products, we understand that different markets have different expectations. While EU customers will always have self-cancellation capabilities due to legal requirements, you retain flexibility for customers in other regions where you can choose to require customer contact for cancellations based on your business preferences.
What This Means Practically
For EU Customers (Automatic):
- Customers in EU countries can always cancel their subscriptions directly through your customer hub.
- No ability to disable this feature for EU customers – it’s legally required.
- Cancellation process must be as simple as the original sign-up process.
For Non-EU Customers (Your Choice):
- Pro+ users with Connect+ on their products can choose whether to enable or disable customer self-cancellation
- You can require customers to contact your company directly for cancellations
- Full flexibility to manage customer relationships as you prefer
Official EU Documentation
For the latest information on EU consumer protection regulations, refer to these official sources:
European Union
- Consumer Rights Directive: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/consumer-contract-law/consumer-rights-directive_en
- Your Europe – Consumer Rights: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees-returns/index_en.htm
- European Consumer Centre Information: https://www.evz.de/en/shopping-internet/online-shopping/what-are-online-subscriptions-and-how-do-i-cancel-them.html
*Excludes PayPal – PayPal processed recurring payments of both subscriptions and split-pay will allow their users self-cancel payment profiles. Also does not prevent payment processors from cancelling due to repeat failed payment attempts.