NYC is now the first city in America that bans sketchy subscriptions

Key Points:

• New York City has implemented a new click-to-cancel rule requiring businesses to make subscription cancellations as easy as sign-ups, allowing residents to file complaints with the city if they face difficulties.
• This local regulation is the first of its kind after a federal version was struck down, and it is expected to save New Yorkers between $21.5 million and $162.5 million annually by preventing deceptive subscription practices.
• The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has launched a complaint portal where consumers can report unclear subscription terms or cancellation issues, with the agency empowered to investigate and impose fines starting at $525 per violation.
• Samuel Levine, former FTC consumer protection chief, praised the swift implementation in NYC compared to the stalled federal effort, emphasizing the importance of government creating effective and user-friendly consumer protection tools.
• The city’s new portal is designed to provide real human assistance rather than automated chatbot responses, aiming to restore public trust in government services and ensure effective enforcement of the rule.