One in three Brits regret signing a particular contract – including gym memberships

Gym memberships, mobile phone and internet service provider contracts are the most common agreements people find difficult to get out of.

The survey of 2,000 adults also found Charity direct debits, fitness or weight loss programmes, as well as personal loans were also contracts Brits wished they hadn’t agree to.

In response to this issue, mobile provider SMARTY set up a unique legal clinic outside London’s King’s Cross station.

Barrister-turned-barista, Sandy Joseph, was available to offer advice to Brits on how to navigate complex contracts and avoid any they might later regret.

Sandy, who was managing 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, revealed that although almost half the population have rushed into contracts without fully understanding what they’re getting into.

Distracted by the excitement of buying something new, a shocking 42 per cent don’t read the small print – with just one in 10 always reading the finer details.

The survey showed that nearly half of customers end up inadvertently renewing subscriptions they had forgotten about, while 17 per cent have been penalised with hefty fees for pulling out early.

Because of this, 79 per cent reckon subscriptions contracts should be easier to exit without penalties. When it comes to the importance of flexibility such as the ability to pause, cancel or change a contract, a decisive 84 per cent said this was important.

A notable third have found themselves locked into a contract that did not meet their expectations. But a canny 42 per cent of those polled via OnePoll said they’d be likely to seek legal advice before signing a high-value contract in the future.

Commenting on this, Sayed Hajamaideen from SMARTY mobile remarked: “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:

1. Gym
2. Mobile phone network provider contract
3. Internet service provider
4. Mobile phone handset
5. TV or streaming service bundles
6. Personal loan agreements
7. Extended warranty on a white good like a washing machine
8. Music streaming services
9. Energy supplier contracts
10. Fitness or weight loss programmes
11. Subscription boxes
12. Magazine or newspaper subscription
13. Mortgage
14. Charitable direct debit
15. Credit card promotional offers
16. Car lease
17. Property lease/rent
18. Video game subscription like Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus
19. Health or life insurance policies
20. Extended car warranty