New York's "Click to Cancel" rule takes effect

New York City has put its "Click to Cancel" rule into force. As of October 1, 2026, residents can file complaints against companies that put up obstacles when customers try to end a subscription. The principle, in the words of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is simple: if you can sign up with a click, you must be able to cancel with one.

Against subscription traps

Businesses too often push customers through confusing, time-consuming procedures to shed an unwanted subscription. The new rule, billed as the first of its kind at the municipal level in the nation, is meant to protect consumers from such traps.

Enforcement falls to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). Violators face civil penalties starting at $525 and may also be required to refund the consumer.

What the rule guarantees

Under the rule, companies must:

• clearly explain the terms of a subscription;
• disclose consumers' rights when signing up or cancelling;
• offer cancellation by the same method used to sign up;
• refrain from charging consumers to return items given to them for free.

When to complain

A complaint is warranted if the terms were not clearly stated, if cancelling proved difficult (for instance, you signed up online but were forced to cancel by phone, in person, or by some other means), if the business delayed the cancellation, sent unordered products and expected them to be returned or paid for, or if the consumer was not told about changes to the terms or about auto-renewal.

After filing, a complainant receives a complaint number to track its status. DCWP reviews the submission and any documents; if needed, a mediator is assigned who contacts both sides and tries to settle the dispute. The complaint form can also be mailed or faxed and is available in twelve languages, including Russian.

Source: Hacker News