Radio 4

Why buy when you can subscribe? From food boxes to fashion, businesses are increasingly keen to sign us up for regular payments. The attraction is clear – predictable income for companies and convenience for consumers. But what happens when we forget to cancel, keep paying for things we barely use or find it harder to leave than join? Evan Davis and guests explore the appeal and the pitfalls of the subscription economy. Guests: Murray Lambell, chief customer officer, Gousto; Mark Ralea, general manager, Fabletics Europe; Kate Nightingale, psychologist and founder, Humanising Brands; and Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at Which? Production team: Presenter: Evan Davis Producers: Nick Holland and Sally Abrahams Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison Sound engineers: James Beard and Dave O’Neill Editor: Matt Willis