Can a magazine take you to court if you cancel sub before minimum 12 mth period?

[Money Saving Expert]

MoneySavingExpert.com has just posted the following message with the title Can a magazine take you to court if you cancel sub before minimum 12 mth period?.

Hi, I have looked at the odd post in the magazine section but it would have taken me ages to look through them all. Most of the magazine offers say that the minimum subscription term is for 12 months. I know that when you pay by Direct Debit you can cancel it through your bank at any time, but can the magazine company make you pay for the remaining 12 months by law? And if so, do they actually do this? Has anyone had this happen to them? I am keen to take out a couple of magazine subscriptions but if I'm not that keen on the magazine once I've read it, I don't want to be held to the 12 month subscription period.

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