Ending your Postcode Lottery membership made easy

About Postcode Lottery

People's Postcode Lottery is a subscription-based charity lottery that's been operating in the UK since 2005. Here's what makes it different from your typical lottery: instead of choosing random numbers, you play with your actual postcode. Every month, you're automatically entered into multiple draws, and if your postcode wins, you and your neighbours share the prize money.

The lottery operates on a subscription model, which means your payment comes out automatically each month until you decide to cancel. This is brilliant for convenience, but it also means many people forget they're subscribed or find it tricky to stop when they want to. I've processed hundreds of Postcode Lottery cancellations, and I can tell you the postal route is your most reliable option for getting this sorted properly.

What's particularly important to understand is that Postcode Lottery isn't just about winning prizes. A significant portion of the subscription fees goes to charity, with over £1 billion raised for good causes since they started. This charitable element is why many people sign up initially, but it's also why some feel guilty about cancelling. Keep in mind that your decision to cancel is entirely legitimate, regardless of the charitable aspect.

The lottery is regulated by the Gambling Commission, which means they must follow strict rules about subscriptions and cancellations. This works in your favour when you need to cancel, as they're legally obligated to process your request properly. Most importantly, they cannot make cancellation unreasonably difficult or charge you penalties for stopping your subscription.

Plans, features and pricing

Postcode Lottery operates on a straightforward subscription model, though there are a few options you should understand before we get into cancellation. The standard subscription costs £10 per month, and this gets you one entry into all the draws that month. You can play with multiple postcodes if you wish, but each additional postcode costs another £10 monthly.

When you subscribe, you're automatically entered into several different draws throughout the month. These include the Daily Prize, where one postcode wins £1,000 every single day, and the Saturday Street Prize, where an entire street can win £30,000. Additionally, there are special Postcode Millions draws where winners can receive significantly larger amounts.

The payment structure is what catches many people out. Your subscription renews automatically on the same date each month, and the payment is taken via Direct Debit from your bank account. This means if you don't cancel properly and in time, you'll continue being charged. I've seen countless cases where people thought they'd cancelled but the payments kept coming because they didn't follow the correct procedure or missed the deadline.

Here's something crucial that many subscribers don't realise: your subscription doesn't just cover one month at a time. When you pay on, say, the 15th of the month, you're paying for draws from that date onwards. This timing matters enormously when you're cancelling, as you need to ensure your cancellation is processed before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another month.

What you get with your subscription

Beyond the prize draws, your subscription includes several features. You get access to the online player area where you can check results, see how much has been raised for charity in your area, and manage some aspects of your account. You'll also receive email notifications when your postcode sector wins, though these notifications can sometimes feel overwhelming if you're not particularly engaged with the lottery anymore.

The charitable giving is structured so that approximately 32% of the subscription price goes directly to charities and good causes. Another portion covers prizes, and the remainder goes to operating costs and profit. This breakdown is important to understand because it explains why the company is quite structured about their subscription management and cancellation processes.

Terms of service and cancellation policy

Right, let's get into the legal stuff, because understanding these terms will save you potential headaches down the line. Postcode Lottery's terms and conditions are governed by UK consumer law, which gives you specific rights when it comes to cancelling subscriptions. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations are on your side here.

First and foremost, you have the right to cancel your subscription at any time. There's no minimum contract period, and they cannot charge you a cancellation fee. This is non-negotiable under UK law. However, and this is where it gets tricky, you must provide proper notice, and that notice must be received and processed before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another month.

Notice periods and timing

The standard notice requirement is that you must cancel at least five working days before your next Direct Debit payment is due. This is absolutely critical. If your payment comes out on the 20th of the month, you need to ensure your cancellation letter is received by the 13th at the latest (accounting for weekends). I always recommend adding extra buffer time because postal delays happen.

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