NYC's Click-to-Cancel Rule Is Live: What Subscribers Can Do

New York City's Click-to-Cancel rule took effect on Oct. 1, 2026. It covers qualifying automatic-renewal and continuous-service subscriptions offered to New York City consumers. Businesses must explain material terms before asking for consent and provide a straightforward way to cancel. The city's consumer guide, adopted rule and current city code describe the requirements.

What plans are covered

An automatic-renewal offer renews for another term unless the consumer cancels. A continuous-service offer continues until the consumer ends it. Before consent or a request for billing information, the business must clearly show what service will renew, the amount and frequency of charges, the cancellation deadline and the available ways to cancel. On a screen, these terms must appear near the consent request; for a voice offer, they must be given close in time to it. A recurring payment alone does not determine whether a contract is covered.

For a free trial or temporary price, the customer should be told how long it lasts, when the price changes and what will be charged afterward before agreeing. When comparing plans, check the next charge, how often it repeats, the cancellation deadline and the route for ending the service.

When notices are due

For a free gift or trial longer than one month that is followed by an automatic-renewal charge, notice is due 3 to 21 days before the cancellation deadline for the first chargeable period. A separate notice applies to a long paid plan: when the initial term is at least a year and the renewal term is at least six months, it must arrive 15 to 45 days before the cancellation deadline. Notice of a material change, including a price increase, must arrive at least five business days, but no more than 30 days, before the change. The renewal reminders must include cancellation instructions. These windows apply to different situations, so check which term and notice apply to the subscription.

How cancellation must work

Customers must be able to cancel at any time through a simple mechanism at least as easy to use as the way they gave consent. A business must accept cancellations through each medium it accepts for affirmative consent to the subscription or a price increase. An online sign-up therefore cannot lead to a phone-only cancellation route.

For an in-person sign-up, the business must provide an online cancellation option, such as a website or email, and, where practical, a similar in-person method. It cannot hang up on someone trying to cancel, hide or give false instructions, misstate a delay or use a retention offer to block or unreasonably postpone cancellation.

What a subscriber can do

New Yorkers can complain to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection online, by mail or by fax. The department provides a case number to track the complaint. If it assigns a mediator, the mediator may ask the business for a written response and work with both sides toward a resolution. The city says its complaint portal is designed for accessibility and the major languages spoken in New York City. Violations can lead to civil penalties starting at $525 per violation and may involve restitution.

Before filing, note the business and plan, sign-up date and method, the terms and notices, and the date and channel of each cancellation attempt. Save any confirmation, error message or statement showing a later charge, and include its amount and date in your complaint. If a charge posts after your request, contact the business about the account too; filing with the city does not cancel a subscription or guarantee a refund.

The code also treats goods sent under an automatic-renewal or continuous-service purchase without affirmative consent as an unconditional gift: the consumer has no obligation to pay for it or ship it back. That protection concerns goods sent without the required consent, not every unwanted delivery under a valid subscription.