New York City Click-to-Cancel Rule Now in Effect for Subscription Services
New York City has implemented a "click to cancel" rule requiring subscription services to make cancellation as easy as sign-up. The rule, which took effect in October 2026, aligns New York City with similar legislation passed in other states and mirrors a federal rule proposed by the FTC.
New York City has put a "click to cancel" rule into effect for subscription services, requiring companies to make cancellation as simple as signing up. The rule took effect in October 2026 and applies to businesses that sell subscriptions to New York City residents.
Under the rule, companies cannot require customers to call a phone number, visit a physical location, or complete a lengthy process to cancel a subscription they signed up for online. If a customer signed up with a few clicks, they must be able to cancel with a few clicks.
The rule aligns New York City with similar legislation already in place in California, Virginia, and several other states. It also mirrors a federal rule proposed by the Federal Trade Commission, which has been working to crack down on subscription cancellation practices that consumer advocates call deliberately difficult.
Consumer groups have long complained that some companies make cancellation intentionally confusing, using tactics like hiding the cancel button, requiring multiple confirmation steps, or routing customers through retention scripts designed to discourage them from leaving.
Businesses that violate the rule face fines. City officials say enforcement will focus on companies that receive the most consumer complaints. Residents who have trouble canceling a subscription can file a complaint with the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
