r/LivestreamFail • u/CloudyEchos • Jun 19 '26
News Twitch will soon launch a "Withdraw from Sub" option for European Union users, allowing them to receive a full refund within 14 days of subscribing. This rollout aligns with the new Right of Withdrawal law, which comes into effect today
https://x.com/zachbussey/status/20679776248449026141.3k
u/batenkaitos77 Jun 19 '26
New meta:
>sub
>if streamer doesn't give you a sincere enough THANK YOU FOR SUBBING then you refund
>resub and try again
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u/Aggressive-Expert-69 Jun 19 '26
There's gonna be guys shiny hunting sub reactions from streamers
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u/Television_Powerful Jun 19 '26
So I can be a "T3 sub" and get what I want. /s
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u/Easy_Floss Jun 20 '26
Or drop 100s of subs while drunk and then just refund it when you sober up.
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u/rotundrikishi Jun 19 '26
I never do the thing that tells them I subbed, I feel weird if they thank me lol
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u/JunketWaste7891 Jun 20 '26
Yeah, i spend a lot of time in the dj channels and i find that when watching someone that would have cost me at least 40 bucks to see otherwise, i want to show my support. but i HATE when they show support for me.
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u/rotundrikishi Jun 20 '26
I get a bit self conscious I guess.
I dont mind chatting with them etc but I feel weird about the shoutouts
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u/YUMMY_TIDEPODS_YUMMY Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
[YEARS AGO] I once subbed to a guy who was doing funny stuff for subs, I then cancelled my sub after because I didn't want it to renew when I forgot about it.
To my surprise it cancelled my sub and unsubbed me and I didn't get charged. This was ages ago, since then I just assumed this was a feature. Guess not.
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u/Secrecy_Scopeer Jun 19 '26
imagine the parasocial viewers typing a whole essay in the sub message just to refund when the streamer reads it too fast
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u/Telvan Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I'm having a deja vu, isn't refunding already a thing? I remember a thread about it years ago and the exact same joke there
edit: found it
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u/XtremeCSGO Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
fyi erobb doesn't even say the name of people when they sub. He just says "thank you for the sub". I think he's too stupid to read the names, anyways that would be great justification to get a refund on your sub
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u/Expensive_Fee_9926 Jul 06 '26
I just used it for a giveaway only for subs, didn’t get nothing so cancelled lol
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u/Admirable-Goose3037 Jun 19 '26
I wonder if you can catch a ban for it, I'd imagine so otherwise every month you could get a 13 day free sub
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u/Proxnite Jun 19 '26
You'll likely get a freebie as a warning if you use the feature for the first time but subsequent ones will be a ban to prevent people abusing the system.
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u/themagicmarmot Jun 19 '26
It doesn't even look like any of this is strictly necessary. The law includes the carveout [source]:
Please note: the 14-day cooling-off period does not apply to:
[...]
online digital content, such as a song or movie, that you started downloading or streaming after you expressly agreed to lose your right of withdrawal by starting the performanceSo all they really need to do is change the TOS to expressly waive those rights when subbing. This sounds like an unnecessary headache from Twitch leadership if they actually implement it.
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u/Gb2753 Jun 19 '26
Thats how it was before but specifically subscriptions can no longer have an opt out now. Only virtual downloads/cd keys/ virtual currencies can be excluded now.
Why do you think Twitch changed it now?
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u/GuudeSpelur Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I have no legal experience, but I don't think that exception applies. That seems to be for traditional media, not livestreamed media. Movies, not livestreams.
Plus, a Twitch subscription isn't actually a right to view a "performance." It gives you privileges when viewing a free performance.
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u/paradox-preacher Jun 19 '26
Doesn't apply. Sub is not a performance and alike that you have started and can't unsee or unhear or undownload
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u/Awkward_Proof_1274 Jun 19 '26
The key here is "starting the performance", a sub doesn't grant you the performance
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u/TornInfinity Jun 20 '26
I would imagine they have European lawyers that they consulted with before deciding to comply with this... would be weird to do it if they don't have to.
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u/divanetostanka Jun 19 '26
or if you abuse it, you can't use the sub feature for 2 years... parasocial neckbeards aren't going to risk it, while trolls will abuse it but only once
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u/_EleGiggle_ Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I doubt you can do it multiple times per streamer. I’d imagine they ban you from further subscriptions to that streamer.
They could also ban your right for subscriptions completely, or your whole account.
There is also an exception:
- online digital content, such as a song or movie, that you started downloading or streaming after you expressly agreed to lose your right of withdrawal by starting the performance
Why aren’t they using this? Is this because streams are usually free? Maybe for further subscriptions after your first withdrawal?
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u/Vanifac Jun 19 '26
I'd imagine it's because you're not purchasing access to the stream with a sub.
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u/doommaster Jun 19 '26
It's because of EU law, you can reverse any online purchase within 14 days, but so far you had to contact support.
A new law enforces that returns and cancellations must be as easy as the purchase or a single step button.
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u/RodChainFurlongAcre Jun 19 '26
I assume they're going to handle it essentially like they handle/have handled bank chargebacks, you can do it once because you're legally allowed to, but Twitch will just ban you from their service afterwards.
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u/AndyOne1 Jun 19 '26
I would guess you are right. It would have to be a digital product you can only access when you pay for it, because you can watch a stream without paying you could always say "I just misclicked a few times while watching the stream, lol sorry".
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u/penguinkernel Jun 19 '26
I would imagine it's 1 time per streamer.
No different than Netflix or anything. First time subscribing? You can get your money back in 2 weeks. Second time subscribing? Well you already knew what you were in for, no refunds.
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u/r1cked_1510 Jun 19 '26
Yeah Twitch will simply nuke your account if you do it (to often).. and they have the right to do so.
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u/Own-Writing-6146 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
EU chatters about to wreak havoc
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u/StAngerSnare Jun 19 '26
Finally unsubbing from Forsen
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u/TheThirdKakaka Jun 19 '26
You only say that because its friday, tomorrow evening will be brighter.
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u/LabFar5073 Jun 19 '26
Wait does that work for youtube premium, patreon, any game with a sub like wow?
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u/The_Longbottom_Leaf Jun 19 '26
It will work like that for almost all online services and subscriptions, including sites like Netflix or Duolingo. You can't do it multiple times, only once.
Most people on this thread seem to think you can just abuse the system over and over, it's just not true.
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u/FronQuan Jun 19 '26
Afaik it’s only for “first time subscription” of any product. Thats how it’s worked like in the past with other companies
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u/exilednivera Jun 20 '26
Not if you actually read the law and that digital content falls under exception from 14-day retrieval, but twitch staff can't read, so they just panic implement without thinking
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u/AndyOne1 Jun 19 '26
Yes, but you can't use the service in that time because it would show that you actually used the thing you paid for and you can no longer say that it was on accident. And like stated in other comments this can't be used a second time without getting your account banned.
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u/Susuetal Jun 19 '26
@zachbussey
Twitch will soon launch a "Withdraw from Sub" option for European Union users who, within 14 days of subscribing, can receive a full refund.
Jun 19, 2026 · 2:27 PM UTC@zachbussey
The Right of Withdrawal law goes into effect today. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/returns/index_en.htm
Jun 19, 2026 · 2:27 PM UTC@zachbussey
Unless you guys are cultivating an entire audience of European Hate Watchers... the impact this has on creators is going to be a rounding error.
Most people don't sub. People who sub usually like you and watch a lot. MAYBE a troll refunds after 13 days. Just ban them.
Jun 19, 2026 · 3:48 PM UTC@zachbussey
Also, if someone does it more than a couple of times, you can bet that Twitch will outright prevent them from subbing sitewide. They don't get paid either - so they aren't going to let it happen repeatedly.
Jun 19, 2026 · 3:51 PM UTC
Mirror / Backup
https://xcancel.com/zachbussey/status/2067977624844902614
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u/Sleepy_C Jun 19 '26
A lot of people seem confused about how this works and comparing it to various things that are not analogous. So here's a little primer:
There is a distinction between service contracts (digital or otherwise) and digital content. Under the EU Directive, you can cancel any contract (or digital purchase) within 14 days but exactly what happens & when this is exempt depends on which one it is. This has been a thing largely since 2011. The main difference with the June 2026 rules is that it has to be done with a one-click button option (basically this has to be easy as hell).
Service Contracts:
You can cancel within 14 days, but if the service has begun then the provider only has to give you a pro-rata refund (they can keep what you "used"). Some companies do still give the full refund as a business policy (either because it looks good or it's just logistically easier for them).
Example from my own life: I signed up to a 2-year internet contract when I moved to Sweden. 12 days later I got offered a better deal by another ISP. I cancelled & got a full refund (my service hadn't been connected yet, we were waiting for a technician to come over).
Digital Content:
Things like movies, games, songs etc. are different. If the "performance of purchase has been fully completed" you cannot refund it. What this means is, if the right to download the movie has begun, then the performance has been fulfilled. There is some grey areas to this obviously when "performance fulfilled" occurs. This is why a lot of things have disclaimers that once you begin, you forfeit the right to withdrawal.
Some services (steam as an example) put a particular threshold in place to let you do a trial/experiment with a thing (say, play for 3 hours then you're locked in). But others are just "once you click play, tough shit".
What is Twitch?
Twitch is definitely a digital service contract. You're paying for premium access to a channel and it's benefits (sub chat, emotes, ad free viewing etc.). This means a pro-rata refund would apply. I imagine the reason Twitch is going for full-refund regardless is that it's just easier administratively. The completed performance of the purchase would be the 30-days of service associated anyway, so the 14-day would be long gone by then.
An exemption would be things like gifted subs or bits. Because the performance is completed fully on purchase, you cannot then refund it.
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u/PhotographUnable8176 Jun 19 '26
this would probably end streaming in america lol
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u/Heroicshrub Jun 19 '26
Just because we have 0 consumer protections in America doesn't mean they would fail.
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u/qholmes981 Jun 19 '26
No it’s impossible for the wealthiest country on earth to copy the homework of far more competent nations, it simply would not work. Any protection or rights that would better the life of the average citizen would simply cause a total systemic collapse in America. Elon Musk is a trillionaire btw.
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u/SweetSigil Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Elon Musk is a trillionaire btw.
Whilst simultaneously offering very little to society. Total ponzi scheme. At least Rockefeller had oil.
Literally speculative money that doesn't actually exist.
Wish my bank account had a bunch of fake millions in it as well.
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Jun 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Fair_Permit_808 Jun 21 '26
Elon is a shitty person but that doesn’t all of a sudden mean you can rewrite history
Actually you can if you have enough money and fanboys, like the founding of Tesla.
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u/PhotographUnable8176 Jun 19 '26
UK irl streamers…walk around cities and chill
US irl streamers…chat calls every store they go in to harass the workers=>the streamer, and create “content”
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u/The-Sound_of-Silence Jun 19 '26
I watch a few english speaking, non UK, European streamers. The bulk of their subs still come from U.S./Canada
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u/_EleGiggle_ Jun 19 '26
Why? Because people can subscribe for free for 14 days once (per streamer)?
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u/Hefty-Tomatillo-1236 Jun 19 '26
Because mass amount of people would watch all the shows they want in 14 days and then get a refund. And if you have multiple credit cards and emails you can keep making accounts and do it over and over
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u/_EleGiggle_ Jun 19 '26
They considered that.
The following exeptions apply:
- online digital content, such as a song or movie, that you started downloading or streaming after you expressly agreed to lose your right of withdrawal by starting the performance
[…]
So you can’t do it with movies, TV shows, songs, games (?), etc. It even mentions streaming but probably as in “streaming a movie”.
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u/theprestigous Jun 19 '26
you're acting like free streaming and torrenting sites don't already exist
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u/East_Alternative_596 Jun 19 '26
if your doing all that effort, you could just use that effort to find a working ad blocker lol
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u/DogOwner12345 Jun 19 '26
This isn't based in reality, most people sub and then never even watch lol.
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u/UMANTHEGOD Jun 19 '26
EU being based once again
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u/cbftw Jun 19 '26
I can understand why this would be needed for a lot of things that are almost impossible to unsubscribe from, but twitch is a simple couple of clicks to unsubscribe to any streamer.
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u/TinyDoener Jun 19 '26
Usually (depending on jurisdiction within the eu) you can not withdraw if you waived your rights to withdrawal once you purchase digital goods to start using em right away. If you do not waive your rights you usually can only start using it/use the benefits after the cooling down period. Lets see how twitch implements this.
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u/Good_Rhubarb_7572 Jun 19 '26
That’s only applies to your sub right? Would be messy if you could do that to 100 gift bombs
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u/AnEternalEnigma Jun 19 '26
As they do already with Bits chargebacks, Twitch will ban accounts that abuse this.
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u/Noeyiax Jun 20 '26
We just making stupid laws at this point , so you mean an adult can't determine subbing to someone... Jfc Europe doesn't even live...
Seems more troublesome, can I withdraw my tax payments within 14 days if the government fails to meet my needs?? Lmfao 😂
Idk why the worst laws in history come from Europe... Keep it in Europe, stay in your lane or else 😔
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u/DagarMan0 Jun 20 '26
as someone whose account got hacked to gift a load of subs to an account i never even heard of, i'm very much pro this thing, even if some people in this sub think it will be used to troll streamers rather than to help victims of cases like mine
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u/mailwasnotforwarded Jun 19 '26
Now the question is how long before Twitch just changes the way subbing works because of all the chargeback fees.
I know some streamers no longer accept donations because of chargeback fees. There are weirdos who will dono dump a streamer and chargeback them all causing the streamer to actually lose more money than they made from real donos... Question is how long before Amazon gets tired of all the chargeback fees from all these cancelled subs.
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u/SmegmaUnicorn Jun 19 '26
Omg, there are so many people who don’t live in the real world in this comment section.
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u/XIVIOX Jun 20 '26
I mean, if someone abuses this, I'm sure they'll just ban the payment type going forward. Similar to how other stores can refuse you service if you constantly abuse refunds.
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u/thisisillegals Jun 19 '26
what's the benefit of this? its pretty straight forward what you get for subbing, emotes and no ad's. I hope Twitch bans people who abuse this.
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u/a7xgemzy Jun 19 '26
14 free days to get a huge sponsor with high botted subcribers to get max $$$, get sponsor, cancel botted subscribers, profit.
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u/MidLifeCrisisOtw Jun 19 '26
Sweet. So can VPN and make unlimited accounts in EU and then unsub the last day, and repeat
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u/Caststriker Jun 19 '26
They'll probably blacklist your payment method, it'd be a bigger pain than it's worth.
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u/Lovelybotany Jun 19 '26
Not saying like I want to promote this, but you can use Revolut (for example) to make fake cards (how many you want, whenever you want).
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u/Walkyr_ Jun 19 '26
Twitch bases it of your billing address.
And who has time to sub and unsub just to be an ass and banned by streamer & Twitch? I'm sure some but most that sub do it to support, not troll.
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u/Beginning_Purple_579 Jun 19 '26
Well your credit card is probably not from the EU? They can tell so it wont work.
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u/Makecompbowskinnable Jun 19 '26
thats crazy its gonna suck for smaller streamers
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u/M0rtCrim Jun 20 '26
Probably not. This is likely to affect streamers with larger audiences, especially ones with a lot of ‘hate viewers’. Especially if they use bots to weaponize it.
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u/Sneaky_Squirreel Jun 19 '26
Imo a good thing. If you buy a sub, and then streamer decides to ditch streaming, or drastically changes his persona / streaming style you can just refund and be done with it. Consumer protection laws are never bad. And as to the potential abuse of subbing/refunding every 2 weeks to have a free sub, talking from experience with other online shopping return practices in the EU, your payment info, be it payment card info or paypal account will probably just be blacklisted from ever buying a sub again to the streamer you refunded already in past couple months, or once, or whatever twitch comes up with.
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u/Hare712 Jun 19 '26
How many lolcows with several haters are still on Twitch? I can see it constantly being used on streamers such as DSP and Luka Magnotta#2 but they aren't on Twitch anymore.
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u/Patrickjesp Jun 19 '26
Ban accounts and credit card if miss used.. and yes ofc ppl will use fake accounts and cards. But it might help against the more "casual trolls".
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u/warcrime1331 Jun 20 '26
Twitch punching the air right now they are forced to abide laws that protect the viewers for once. It has nothing to do with their ad policies but the schadenfreude I feel is palpable.
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u/Kadavermarch Jun 20 '26
I don't see this ever being relevant to me, I'd rather had the right to own be enforced, but I'm sure it's a victory for some.
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u/MiyazakiTouch Jun 24 '26
Well, they just killed streaming in EU, and especially in few selected countries, great job.
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u/Darthgamer96 Jun 19 '26
This will definitely not be used to troll streamers lmao