Part 4: Consumer rights and disputes Duties of traders Section 259: Content and timing etc. of reminder notices
This section defines the requirements a trader must follow as to timing and content of a reminder notice and how the notice must be given.
	Subsection (1) requires that the information prescribed in Part 3 of Schedule 23 must be included in a reminder notice together with any other information required by regulations under section 277, subsection (1), paragraph (b). The information must be given all together.
	Subsection (2) provides that a reminder notice must be given in such a way that the prescribed information (as set out in section 259, subsection (1)) is more prominent than any other information given to the consumer at the same time. It also provides that reminder notices must be given in accordance with any other requirements prescribed in regulations under section 277, subsection (1), paragraph (a) additional to those requirements set out in subsections (3) to (7).
	The purpose of the reminder notice is to give the consumer sufficient notice to decide if they still want the contract to continue, and if necessary, cancel their contract before the renewal payment is incurred. Subsection (3) sets out that a trader must specify the period in which consumers will receive a reminder notice in the pre-contract information they provide to the consumer.
	Subsection (4) specifies that the reminder notice period set out in the pre-contract information must be reasonably in advance of "the last cancellation date". This period must be reasonable for the purposes of informing the consumer that they will soon be liable for a renewal payment. This period must also be reasonable for the purposes of enabling the consumer to take the necessary steps before incurring liability for the next renewal payment.
	Subsection (5) defines the last cancellation date. This is the last day on which the consumer can exercise a right to bring the contract to an end and thereby avoid liability for the renewal payment.
	Subsection (7) specifies where the trader is required to serve an additional reminder under subsection (6). Subsection (6) applies where the next following renewal payment that the consumer could avoid by ending the contract would be a year or more after the forthcoming renewal payment. (Or if no further renewal payments would arise under the contract, the contract would continue for at least a year after the forthcoming renewal payment.) The effect of these provisions is that for subscription contracts that will renew to a period of 12 months or more, a trader must give an additional reminder notice prior to the notice set out in subsection (3). This additional reminder notice must be sent prior to the notice set out in subsection (3) and at a time which is reasonable for the purposes of providing additional notification to the consumer that they will soon become liable for a renewal payment.
	Subsection (8) defines a "12-month period" for the purposes of the provision in subsection (7) triggering a trader’s duty to serve an additional reminder.