FTC’s New Click-to-Cancel Rule Makes Subscription Cancellations Easier than Ever
Subscription services are everywhere these days—Netflix, gym memberships, meal kits—the list goes on. But just when you’ve finally decided to break up with that stubborn subscription that’s draining your wallet, you find out there are more hoops to jump through than in a circus act. Thankfully, the Federal Trade Commission is stepping in with a shiny new rule, the ‘Click-to-Cancel’ option, designed to make breaking up with your subscription as easy as swiping left on a dating app profile.
Commission Chair Lina M. Khan puts it bluntly: “Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.” The FTC’s new measure mandates that cancelling a subscription must be at least as easy as signing up. Gone are the days of chatbots that seem more interested in your life story than your need to cancel, not to mention the absurd requirements like certified letters or in-person visits! You’d think some companies were trying to keep you in a relationship against your will.
Complaints about subscription services have grown at an alarming rate, and with nearly 70 complaints coming in daily, the FTC decided it was time for action. The new rule applies to nearly all negative option programs and requires sellers to clearly disclose all material terms before they snag your billing info, which is a win for consumers everywhere. Who knew getting out of a relationship could be this liberating? It’s like finally getting the courage to delete that one ex’s number!
In a world where everyone wants your attention (and your money), it’s refreshing to see the FTC taking a stand for consumers. Here’s to hoping this rule will give people the power to take control of their subscriptions—and maybe even inspire a little more transparency in the service industry. Because let’s face it, no one should feel like they need a lawyer to break up with their gym membership!
