Brief
NYC reinstates “click‑to‑cancel” rule for subscriptions
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the revival of a “click‑to‑cancel” law, adding a city‑run complaints site and staff to enforce it.
By Felo News Desk · Published
New York City has revived a “click‑to‑cancel” rule that obliges companies to make cancelling a subscription as easy as signing up, mayor Zohran Mamdani announced last week.
What happened
The rule, first introduced by an executive order in January, went into effect on Oct. 1. It applies to a range of recurring services, from gym memberships to mobile‑phone contracts and app subscriptions. The city also launched a dedicated web page where residents can file complaints, search for businesses, and upload evidence such as screenshots.
What the reports add
CNET notes that the rule mirrors the “click‑to‑cancel” proposals floated in 2024 during the Biden administration but never fully implemented. The city’s complaint portal lets users select issues like “business delayed canceling your subscription” or “you were not informed of auto‑renewal.” Users can also request outcomes such as a refund and cancellation.
What was said
Mayor Mamdani said, “No one should need 45 minutes of hold music to stop paying for something they never wanted. If a company can take your money with one click, you should be able to get your money back with one click.” Samuel Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, told The Verge that full‑time staffers will handle the complaints, not chatbots.
How it came about
The rule revives a nationwide regulation that an appeals court struck down a year earlier, which had required companies to simplify subscription cancellations. By re‑enacting it at the city level, New York aims to protect consumers who, according to a CNET survey, spend on average more than $1,300 a year on subscriptions, many of which are unused or accidental.
Key facts
- NYC’s click‑to‑cancel rule took effect on Oct. 1, 2026. (cnet.com)
- The rule requires companies to let users cancel subscriptions as easily as they sign up. (cnet.com)
- Fines for violations can reach $525 per complaint. (cnet.com)
- A new city‑run web portal allows residents to file and track subscription‑cancellation complaints. (cnet.com)
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Consumer Protection Commissioner Samuel Levine were the officials quoted. (cnet.com)
Sources
- [1] cnet.com — originally reported as “A Court Ruling Killed 'Click to Cancel. ' NYC Just Brought It Back”
