Canceling a subscription must be as easy as signing up

If you signed up online for a covered subscription, you now have the right to cancel it online too. A New York City rule that took effect October 1, 2026 says canceling must be as simple as enrolling and available through the same channels. If you signed up in person, the business must also give you a way to cancel online or by email.

The rule covers consumer subscriptions and memberships that qualify as automatic renewals or continuous-service offers. Some providers, such as financial institutions and certain franchised services, are exempt. Before you agree to a covered subscription, businesses must clearly tell you what you’ll be charged, how often, and how to cancel. They must send reminders before certain long free trials and yearly plans renew and before material changes such as price increases. They can’t hide cancellation steps, drop your call, ignore your request, or stall. Goods sent under a subscription without your consent count as a gift.

If a company makes canceling hard, you can file a complaint with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Fines are $525 for a first violation, $1,050 for a second, and $3,500 for third and later violations. The city can also seek repayment of charges imposed after your first cancellation attempt.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed Executive Order 10 on January 5, 2026, directing the department to prioritize enforcement against deceptive subscription practices and take appropriate action, including rulemaking. The department, led by Commissioner Sam Levine, adopted the final rule in July.