NYC Becomes First US City to Mandate Click-to-Cancel Subscriptions
New York City residents can now breathe easier when signing up for recurring subscriptions. The city's "click-to-cancel" rule took effect Thursday, requiring businesses to make canceling a subscription no more difficult than signing up for one.
The regulation means that a gym offering online sign-ups, for instance, cannot force customers to call or visit in person to end their membership. Under the new rule, residents can submit complaints directly to the city government if they encounter businesses that don't comply.
NYC becomes the first municipality in the nation to enforce such a requirement. A federal version of the rule had been struck down by an appeals court on procedural grounds, clearing the way for cities like New York to act independently.
The city estimates the measure could save New Yorkers between $21.5 million and $162.5 million annually by reducing the friction and frustration often associated with subscription cancellation.