Not everything that’s annoying, unethical, or downright ridiculous is actually illegal in the UK — or anywhere else, for that matter.
Some things should be crimes purely because of how frustrating they are, but for some reason, they get a free pass. Whether it’s social behaviour, business tactics, or just everyday nonsense, certain things feel like they should come with real consequences. These are just some of the things that aren’t against the law, but absolutely should be because they’re so annoying.
1. Playing music out loud in public places
No one needs to hear your playlist blaring from your phone speakers on the train, in a café, or while walking down the street. Headphones exist for a reason, yet some people insist on forcing their music on everyone around them. It’s inconsiderate, disruptive, and somehow becoming more common. If you’re in a public space, the basic rule should be: if other people can hear your music, it’s too loud. Just because you’re in the mood for a soundtrack doesn’t mean the rest of the world needs to be part of it. Let’s make this a fineable offence.
2. Slow walkers taking up the whole pavement
Walking slowly is one thing, but moving at a snail’s pace while blocking the entire footpath is another. Whether it’s a group stretching out side by side or someone casually strolling while texting, it turns a simple walk into an obstacle course. People in a rush shouldn’t have to weave through crowds just to get somewhere on time. If you’re walking slowly, at least leave space for others to pass. Basic traffic rules should apply to pedestrians too, because getting stuck behind a wall of slow movers is maddening. A simple ‘keep left’ system would make life easier for everyone.
3. Inescapable, forced customer service phone menus
Few things are more frustrating than trying to speak to a real person and being stuck in an endless loop of automated menus. Press 1 for this, press 2 for that, and somehow, no option leads to an actual human being. Companies do this on purpose to make it harder to get real help. By the time you finally reach someone, you’ve wasted 20 minutes listening to hold music and robot voices. There should be a law requiring companies to have a direct ‘speak to a human’ option within the first 30 seconds. Anything less should be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
4. Websites that make it easy to sign up but impossible to cancel
Signing up for a subscription takes seconds, but cancelling it is a nightmare. Some companies hide the option under endless menus, force you to call customer service, or even require sending an email just to stop payments. It’s shady and completely intentional. There should be a legal requirement that if a company lets you sign up online, it should also let you cancel online. No phone calls, no weird loopholes, just a simple ‘cancel’ button. Anything else is a scam dressed up as a business model.
5. Influencers faking ‘surprise’ reactions to brand deals
We all know you didn’t ‘just wake up to this amazing package from [insert brand here].’ These fake, overly scripted influencer moments where they pretend to be shocked by a free PR package are painfully cringe. The worst part is that companies keep rewarding this behaviour. Transparency should be the rule, not the exception. If influencers are getting paid to promote something, they should just say it instead of acting like they randomly discovered a brand. Fake excitement for a paid collaboration isn’t fooling anyone.
6. Putting prices behind ‘Request a Quote’ buttons
If you’re selling something, just say how much it costs. Companies that hide their prices behind ‘Get a Quote’ buttons or require a phone call are just making things harder for no reason. It’s almost always a way to charge different people different prices. Customers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops just to find out whether something is in their budget. If businesses are proud of their pricing, they should display it upfront. Otherwise, it feels like a scam.
7. People who take up two parking spaces
Parking is already a nightmare in most places, and then someone comes along and takes up two spaces. Whether it’s carelessness or entitlement, it makes life harder for everyone else. If you can’t park within the lines, you shouldn’t be allowed to take up extra space. There should be instant fines for people who do this, no warnings necessary. A little effort to park properly would save everyone a lot of frustration. Taking up more space than necessary should come with consequences.
8. Unskippable ads before YouTube videos
Watching a 20-second ad before a video is annoying, but understandable. However, when there are two, three, or even four ads back to back with no way to skip them, it starts feeling ridiculous. It’s like TV commercials but somehow worse. There should be a limit to how many ads can play before a video. If a clip is under 10 minutes, forcing viewers to sit through multiple ads should be considered digital torture. No one asked for a mini cinema experience before watching a five-minute tutorial.
9. People who FaceTime in public on speaker
Not only do these people insist on talking loudly in public spaces, but they also expect everyone around them to be part of their call. There’s no reason to have a full-volume video chat on a train, in a shop, or while walking down the street. Just because technology allows it doesn’t mean it’s socially acceptable. Either use headphones or wait until you’re somewhere private. No one else wants to hear both sides of your conversation echoing through the café. Public speakerphone calls should come with an automatic fine.
10. People who chew with their mouths open
It’s shocking how many adults never learned this basic rule. No one wants to hear or see someone’s food while they’re eating. Whether it’s in a restaurant, at a meeting, or during a quiet dinner, chewing with your mouth open should come with consequences. If someone can hear your meal before they see it, something has gone very wrong. Eating like a civilised human being shouldn’t be optional. This should be a social offence at the very least.
11. People who don’t return their shopping trolleys
Leaving your trolley in the middle of the car park instead of returning it takes zero effort but causes maximum inconvenience. It blocks parking spots, rolls into other cars, and makes life harder for the people collecting them. If someone can push a trolley around a supermarket for an hour, they can push it 10 more metres to the return area. If they don’t, they should have to pay a ‘lazy tax.’ It’s basic consideration for others, yet some people act like it’s too much to ask. A simple rule: return the trolley or face the consequences.
12. Posting ‘big news coming soon’ without follow-up
People who post vague, dramatic teasers like “Huge changes ahead!” or “Can’t wait to share this news!” and then never actually update anyone are the worst. They want the attention, the comments, and the curiosity, but they never deliver the actual information. It’s social media clickbait, and it needs to stop. If you’re going to announce something, just do it. People don’t have time to play detective over an update that might never come. If a week passes with no follow-up, a penalty should apply—at the very least, an automatic post saying, “Never mind, it wasn’t that interesting.”
13. Leaving someone on read for days
Life gets busy, but if someone clearly read a message and didn’t respond for days, it feels intentional. No one expects an immediate reply, but basic communication should still exist. It’s frustrating to see someone active online while your message sits ignored. At the very least, send a quick “I’ll reply later” message. Leaving someone hanging for no reason should come with a social fine. A simple acknowledgment goes a long way in keeping communication respectful.
