The federal click to cancel rule is gone. A federal appeals court vacated it in July 2025, finding the FTC skipped a required cost analysis for a rule affecting over $100 million in impact. The current FTC has not appealed or rewritten it. A bipartisan bill in Congress, S.2253, would create similar rules in federal law, but its status remains uncertain.
You still have protections in several states. California strengthened its automatic renewal law in 2025. Businesses there must let customers cancel online if they signed up online, and must send yearly subscription reminders. New York State has its own version. Massachusetts added similar rules through consumer protection regulations. New York City's own click to cancel rule took effect October 1, 2026. The city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection enforces it. Any business must let a subscriber cancel the same way they signed up. A company cannot force someone who enrolled online to call or visit in person to quit. Violations start with a $525 civil penalty.
If you live outside these states and cities, no single rule guarantees easy cancellation. The FTC can still act under Section 5 of its act. Most states have general unfair or deceptive practices laws companies can violate even without a specific auto-renewal statute.
To protect yourself: Cancel the same way you signed up. Do it in writing and save a copy of your request. If a company keeps charging you, contact your bank or card issuer and dispute the specific charge. Most issuers can block future charges from that merchant once a dispute is open. File a complaint with the FTC or your state attorney general. Check your bank and card statements monthly for recurring charges you don't recognize. Canceling a subscription does not affect your credit report. The only credit risk comes from letting an unresolved charge go to collections.