NYC adopts Click-to-Cancel rule for subscriptions

New York City officials have announced a landmark consumer protection policy that will require businesses to allow customers to cancel recurring subscriptions as easily as they sign up for them. The "Click to Cancel" rule, unveiled by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine, is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and is projected to save city residents up to $162.5 million annually.

The policy mandates that any company offering automatic renewal or continuous service subscriptions must provide a straightforward online cancellation process. If a consumer can enroll with a single click, they must be able to cancel with comparable ease, without being forced to navigate complex menus, speak to a retention agent, or answer unnecessary surveys. The rule is described as the first of its kind for a municipal government in the United States.

Officials framed the measure as a direct response to widespread business practices that trap consumers into paying for services they no longer want. At a press conference on Friday, July 10, Mayor Mamdani stated that for years, companies have built their business models around making it...