Overview

• Leaders of major organisations including the National Trust, Tate and Historic Royal Palaces warned in a leaked 31 July letter that the DMCCA’s 14‑day cancellation window could be exploited to use benefits and then seek refunds.
• The letter cites examples such as visitors using a Tate membership to access multiple paid exhibitions in one day or families touring National Trust sites within two weeks before cancelling for a full refund.
• Signatories also include heads of the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Royal British Legion and the Wildlife Trusts, with the Woodland Trust and RSPB named among supporters.
• Charities say the measure threatens gift aid treatment and adds heavy administrative burdens, jeopardising membership revenues worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the sector.
• The Department for Business and Trade says the consumer protections target rip‑off subscriptions and will not unfairly affect charities, as Labour moves to implement the Act next year and officials continue engagement with the sector.