It May Soon Be Much Easier To Cancel Your Subscriptions (We Hope)

As someone who has spent countless hours navigating the labyrinthine world of online subscriptions, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief and vindication at the FTC’s new Click To Cancel rule. For years, I’ve found myself trapped in the clutches of services I no longer wanted or needed, all because the cancellation process was as complex as solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded.


It’s often challenging for some online services or memberships to let users easily end their subscription or quit. The main idea behind this difficulty was likely to deter consumers from following through with cancellation. However, the Federal Trade Commission has recently introduced a new regulation aimed at simplifying the process of cancelling such services.

The FTC’s “Click To Cancel” regulation encourages sellers to simplify the method for customers to cancel their subscriptions or memberships. While its effectiveness is yet to be determined, it certainly represents a step in the right direction for those advocating for this change.

In her statement, Commission Chair Lina M. Khan expressed concern that many businesses force customers to jump through numerous hurdles simply to cancel a subscription. She explained that the new FTC rule aims to put an end to these deceptive practices, ultimately saving Americans both time and money. According to her, no one should be compelled to keep paying for a service they no longer require.

As a gamer, I appreciate clear rules that protect me from unexpected charges. For instance, when I subscribe to a game streaming service, I should be able to easily unsubscribe with just one click to stop any further fees from being deducted. The Federal Trade Commission is implementing a rule to tackle this common complaint they receive annually, aiming to put an end to this issue once and for all.

According to FTC regulations, this new rule won’t become active for 180 days following its publication in the Federal Register. It might take a while to determine if the changes are functioning as planned.

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2024-10-17 16:08