Is Your Leisure Centre Ready for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act?

It's all about protecting UK consumers: making it easier to sign up, cancel, and manage subscriptions. For leisure operators, that means your centre needs to be ready, and so does the technology you rely on.

Catch up on our recent webinar to hear exactly what's changing, and how we're building compliance directly into Gladstone.

What's changing for your centre?

The DMCCA is cracking down on confusing sign-ups, sneaky renewals, and clunky cancellations. Here's what you need to deliver: 

1. Clearer sign-ups
   • Show full costs (beyond intro offers)
   • Explain renewal terms 
   • Highlight when and how charges apply 
   
   
2. Mandatory reminders
   • Notify members before auto-renewals, trial ends, or price hikes
   • Keep reminders clear, timely, and easy to act on
   
   
3. Easy Cancellations
   • If they joined online, they must be able to cancel online 
   • No more forcing members to call or visit in person
   
   
4. Ongoing Transparency 
   • Real-time access to billing and plan details
   • Regular updates and twice-yearly contract reminders

Fail to comply, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can investigate and fine. But compliance isn't just about avoiding penalties;  it's about building trust and loyalty. 

Why older systems fall short

Older (Gladstone) platforms like Connect and Join@Home weren't built with today's consumer protection standards in mind. That creates friction, such as: 

• Unclear renewals - members not realising when paid plans begin
• Manual cancellations - staff still need to process requests

You can create workarounds with third-party tools, but these are clunky, error-prone and risky for compliance.

Why Gladstone Go solves your compliance headaches

Gladstone Go is designed for modern membership models, so you can stay compliant without extra admin.

• Transparent sign-up journeys - branded, clear, and compliant
• Automated reminders - alerts before renewals or pricing changes
• Self-service cancellations - members cancel online, no hoops
• Real-time plan management - billing and renewal details on demand 

Updates that will begin rolling into the platform from Spring 2026:

• Twice-yearly contract reminders
• Built-in auditing tools to prove compliance
• Dynamic prompts for pricing and contract changes

What your centre should do next

If you're a Gladstone customer still using Connect or Join@Home, we recommend:

• Reviewing your current sign-up and cancellation process
• Checking how easy it is to send renewal and price reminders
• Talking to us about your options for upgrading to Gladstone Go
• Seek legal advice to ensure compliance

If you're not yet with Gladstone:

• Assess whether your current system can deliver transparent sign-ups, easy cancellations, and automated reminders
• If not, speak to our team about how Gladstone can simplify compliance and reduce admin headaches
• Book a demo to see it in action 

If you're already on Gladstone Go:

• Lucky you! You're already ahead of the curve; we're building DMCCA features directly into Go
• Keep an eye on our updates for rollout dates
• Watch the webinar to see how these features will work in practice