Mamdani has a new target. Subscriptions that make cancellations difficult

The mayor’s announcement comes as New York rolls out protections against confusing cancellation processes and unwanted subscription renewals.

Mamdani demonstrates how complicated the subscription cancellation process can be / X

New Delhi: Consumers who face lengthy or complicated processes when cancelling subscriptions can now file complaints against businesses that make it unnecessarily difficult. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced an initiative to make subscription cancellations as simple as signing up.

The initiative brings renewed attention to the city’s new consumer protection rule, which took effect on 1 October. Under the rule, consumers can report businesses that make cancelling subscriptions unnecessarily difficult.

“Cancelling a subscription shouldn’t be this hard. If you can sign up with a click, you must be able to cancel with one,” Mamdani said in a post on X on 11 October.

He also directed consumers to the city’s online complaint portal at nyc.gov/click-to-cancel, where they can report businesses that make it difficult to cancel subscriptions.

Mamdani shows cancellation difficulties

In a recent 50-second video posted on social media, Mamdani sits with his laptop and demonstrates how complicated the subscription cancellation process can be. The video shows how users are often required to answer multiple questions, navigate several steps, and click through different tabs before they can cancel a subscription.

He begins by clicking the “Cancel Subscription” button, which leads to a series of additional steps. First, the website asks, “Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription?” The process continues with a confirmation button, followed by another question asking whether the user is certain about cancelling.

The website also presents offers designed to persuade users to change their minds and keep their subscriptions. 

Highlighting the problem, Mamdani urged consumers to report businesses that make the cancellation process unnecessarily complicated.

“Head to https://nyc.gov/click-to-cancel to file a complaint against any business that makes it hard to cancel a subscription,” he said.

Click to cancel 

The website opens with the headline, “NYC’s ‘Click to Cancel’ rule is now in effect,” followed by an option for consumers to file a complaint.

According to the website, the rule requires companies to clearly explain subscription terms and disclose consumers’ rights when signing up for or cancelling a service. Companies must provide a straightforward cancellation process. 

Consumers can also file complaints if businesses fail to disclose automatic renewals, delay cancellations, or do not inform them of changes to subscription terms. 

It also prohibits businesses from requiring consumers to pay shipping costs to return items they received for free. Businesses that violate the rule will face civil penalties starting at $525 per violation and may have to reimburse affected consumers.

Following the announcement, users on social media praised the initiative, with many sharing their own experiences of how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to cancel subscriptions.

“You literally can’t oppose this!! Make this Man President,” one user commented on X.

“This is exactly how it should be,” another user wrote.

(Edited by Maryam Hassan)