The UK government has exempted charitable and heritage organizations from new consumer regulations that would have allowed members to cancel and receive refunds within a two-week cooling-off period. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), set to take effect next year, will not apply to membership schemes of qualifying cultural and heritage charities.
This decision is a significant financial and operational relief for major institutions like the National Trust, which has over five million members, and the Art Fund. The exemption safeguards a crucial revenue stream for these organizations, allowing them to continue funding public access to collections, landscapes, and cultural sites without the risk of millions in potential refunds undermining their sustainability and charitable missions.