Thirteen percent of French consumers continue to pay for subscriptions they no longer use, costing them an average of 81 euros per month, according to findings presented by economy journalist Lea Kebdani on French television network TF1.
Speaking on the morning news program Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1, Kebdani advised viewers that the end of the summer holiday period is the ideal time to review recurring household expenditures, evaluate which services are actually being used, and cancel unused subscriptions.
To audit these recurring payments, Kebdani recommended reviewing bank statements from the previous three months and highlighting all automatic direct debits. Common recurring expenditures that often go unnoticed include mobile phone plans, internet service subscriptions, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and video streaming platforms.
She pointed out that certain digital expenses are aggregated into a single line item on bank statements, particularly purchases and subscriptions made through mobile applications. To inspect these bundled charges, consumers must open the application store on their smartphone, navigate to their personal profile, and select the subscriptions tab, which displays a comprehensive list of all paid applications active on the device.
TF1 is the leading national private television channel in France, and its flagship morning broadcast regularly features consumer affairs guidance. The post-holiday return in late August and September, known in France as la rentrée, marks the reopening of schools and businesses after the summer break, making it a key moment for financial planning and commercial promotions across the country.
Promotional offers and fee negotiations
After reviewing active subscriptions and paid mobile applications, Kebdani stressed that consumers should take advantage of seasonal bargaining opportunities. With September approaching, companies across France launch numerous back-to-school promotional packages aimed at securing new subscribers.
Discounted rates are frequently offered during the initial weeks of September by fitness centers, magazine publishers, and mobile telephone operators. Kebdani noted that this period is also the most opportune time of year for customers to leverage market competition by calling their current service providers directly to negotiate better pricing terms.
Automated subscription management services
For consumers who find it difficult or overly complicated to call providers, compare market rates, or conduct manual searches, automated third-party management services offer an alternative. Kebdani explained that specialized companies are now available to handle the entire subscription audit process on behalf of users.
These services list and analyze a consumer's active subscriptions directly from their bank statements, compare those plans against alternative market offers, and present cheaper options. The auditing service is completely free for consumers, as the management companies generate revenue by earning a commission from service providers when a user switches to a new subscription.
