A subscription becomes difficult to manage when its renewal date, price, and terms are scattered across emails, customer portals, and general terms and conditions. The best practice is to create a simple record as soon as you subscribe.
The 5 pieces of information to record
- Subscription date.
- Frequency: monthly, annual, or other.
- Next known due date.
- Current price and any announced changes.
- Non-renewal or cancellation terms applicable to the contract.
Why the due date is important
For certain fixed-term service contracts containing an automatic renewal clause, Article L215-1 of the French Consumer Code requires the consumer to be informed in writing about the possibility of not renewing the contract within a specific window before the end of the period, allowing them to refuse the renewal. Special rules exist for certain sectors: it is therefore necessary to verify the type of contract involved.
Proof to keep
- email or page confirming the subscription;
- price and frequency at the time of subscription;
- renewal terms;
- message announcing a price increase or modification;
- cancellation request and acknowledgement or confirmation;
- effective end date.
Three useful statuses
Confirmed: next due date and terms are clearly identified in a recent source.
Probable: the frequency is known, but the exact next date or price still needs to be confirmed.
To be verified: the terms are old, contradictory, or missing.
Avoid relying on a single reminder
An email can be missed or filtered. Keeping the date and terms in a dedicated tracker allows you to review the subscription before it is due and document the actions taken.
Official source: Légifrance — Consumer Code, articles L215-1 to L215-5.
Last AfterSentry review: 10/02/2026.