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Your right to cancel: federal, California, New York, NYC

NYC's Click-to-Cancel rule took effect Oct 1, 2026. There is no federal click-to-cancel rule right now, but a federal law still covers online subscriptions.

CheckedEvery rule checked at the primary source on .

This is general information, not legal advice. Some businesses are exempt (for example cable or internet service under a city franchise, banks, and insurance-regulated companies).

Federal: no click-to-cancel rule, but ROSCA applies

No federal rule yetChecked

No federal click-to-cancel rule right now

The FTC's 2024 rule was struck down by a federal appeals court in July 2025. The FTC asked for comments on a new rule in March 2026 but hasn't proposed one. A 2010 federal law (ROSCA) still requires online sellers to give you a simple way to stop recurring charges.

Source: FTC request for comments (Federal Register, Mar 13, 2026) (opens in new tab)

Source: FTC restores the 1973 rule (Federal Register, Feb 12, 2026) (opens in new tab)

What changed: FTC rule vacated (2025) → ANPRM (2026)

  1. 2024

    The FTC adopts "click-to-cancel" amendments to its Negative Option Rule.

  2. July 2025

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit vacates the 2024 amendments (Custom Communications, Inc. v. FTC).

  3. Feb 12, 2026

    The FTC's restored 1973 rule takes effect. It covers only prenotification plans.

  4. Mar 13, 2026

    The FTC asks for public comment on a possible new rule (comments due Apr 13, 2026).

  5. Oct 11, 2026

    No proposed rule has been published. ROSCA (2010) still applies to online subscriptions.

New York City: Click to Cancel (in effect Oct 1, 2026)

In effect Oct 1, 2026Checked

New York City: Click to Cancel rule

  • You have the right to cancel the same way you signed up (for example, online if you signed up online), under NYC's Click to Cancel rule.
  • Signed up in person? Businesses must also give you an online way to cancel, through a website or email.
  • Businesses must send renewal, free-trial and price-change notices, like New York State's law requires.
  • The rule requires businesses to pay back (restitution) amounts charged after your first attempt to cancel.
  • Goods sent to you without your consent are an unconditional gift: you don't have to send them back.
  • Penalties for businesses: $525 for a first violation, $1,050 for a second, $3,500 for a third or later.

Not covered by the NYC rule

  • Services provided under a franchise from a New York political subdivision (for example cable)
  • Entities regulated by the NY Department of Financial Services
  • Alarm operators licensed by NY State
  • Banks, credit unions and other licensed financial institutions
  • Sellers and administrators of service contracts

Law: 6 RCNY §§ 5-110 – 5-110.3 (opens in new tab)

Source: NYC DCWP: Click to Cancel (complaints by online form, 311, phone, mail or fax) (opens in new tab)

File a complaint with NYC DCWP(opens in new tab)https://a866-dcwpbp.nyc.gov/consumer-complaint/click-to-cancel

A cable or internet bill may not be covered: services under a city franchise are exempt. The rule is enforced by the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). Rules page: Cancellation of Subscriptions (opens in new tab).

New York State: General Business Law § 527-a

In effect since late 2025Checked

New York State: automatic renewal law

  • You have the right to cancel at any time, with a simple way that is as easy as signing up and through the same medium, under N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a.
  • You can cancel through every medium you used to sign up. Signed up in person? You can also cancel online or by phone.
  • Businesses must not hang up on you, give you false information or unreasonably delay your cancellation. Save offers are allowed but may not get in the way.
  • If the price goes up, the business must get your consent, or let you cancel within at least 14 days after the charge with a pro-rata refund.
  • Notices: 5 business days to 30 days before a material or price change; 15 to 45 days before the cancel deadline for terms of a year or more that renew for 6 months or more; 3 to 21 days before the first charge after a free trial longer than a month.

Not covered

  • Franchise-based services (for example cable)
  • Entities regulated by the NY Department of Financial Services
  • Alarm operators
  • Banks and credit unions
  • Service contracts

Law: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a (opens in new tab)

File a complaint with the NY Attorney General(opens in new tab)https://ag.ny.gov/file-complaint

Effective date: law-firm summaries put the strengthened rules in effect on Nov 5, 2025 (secondary source); the budget bill was signed on May 9, 2025 (Governor's announcement (opens in new tab)).

California: automatic renewal law

Applies from July 1, 2025Checked

California: automatic renewal law

  • Signed up online? You have the right to cancel exclusively online, at will, under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602: through a prominent direct link or button (in your account, profile or device settings) or a ready-made cancellation email.
  • If a business shows a save or discount offer while you cancel online, it must keep a "click to cancel" link or button on screen the whole time. By phone, it must first tell you that you can say "cancel".
  • Cancel requests left by voicemail must be processed, or the call returned, within 1 business day.
  • Notices: 3 to 21 days before a free trial or promo price longer than 31 days ends; 15 to 45 days before renewal of a term of a year or more; 7 to 30 days before a fee change; and a yearly reminder for annual or continuous plans.
  • Covers contracts entered into, amended or extended on or after July 1, 2025.

Law: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17600–17606 (AB 2863) (opens in new tab)

File a complaint with the CA Attorney General(opens in new tab)https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

Other states

NYC's consumer agency names these states as having their own auto-renewal laws: Utah, Idaho, Massachusetts, Georgia, Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Arkansas. We don't summarize them. Your state has its own auto-renewal law; check your attorney general's site. If your state isn't listed it may still have rules; federal law applies everywhere.

How to complain

Keep the date and how you tried to cancel (screenshots, emails, call times). Then use the door that fits where you live.

Every fact and its source

Checked . Solid badge = read at the primary source; dashed = secondary source.

  1. The FTC's 2024 "click-to-cancel" amendments to its Negative Option Rule were vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in July 2025, for a procedural reason (no preliminary regulatory analysis). Case: Custom Communications, Inc. v. FTC, 142 F.4th 1060.

    FTC ANPRM, Federal Register, Mar 13, 2026 (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  2. The FTC restored the original 1973 rule, which covers only prenotification plans, effective Feb 12, 2026.

    Federal Register, Feb 12, 2026 (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  3. The FTC asked for public comment on a possible new rule (comments were due Apr 13, 2026). As of Oct 11, 2026 it had not published a proposed rule.

    FTC ANPRM, Federal Register (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  4. ROSCA: before billing, online sellers must clearly disclose all material terms, get your express informed consent, and provide "simple mechanisms" to stop recurring charges.

    15 U.S.C. § 8403 (ROSCA, 2010) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  5. California's automatic renewal law, as amended by AB 2863, applies to contracts entered into, amended or extended on or after July 1, 2025.

    Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602(j) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  6. Signed up online: you must be able to cancel "exclusively online, at will", through a prominent direct link or button (account, profile, or device or user settings) or a ready-made termination email.

    Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602(d)(1) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  7. A save or discount offer during online cancellation is allowed only with a continuously displayed "click to cancel" link or button. By phone, the business must first tell you that you can say "cancel".

    Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602(e) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  8. Notices: 3 to 21 days before a free trial or promo price longer than 31 days ends; 15 to 45 days before renewal of an initial term of a year or more; 7 to 30 days before a fee change; a yearly reminder for annual or continuous plans. Voicemail cancel requests are processed or returned within 1 business day.

    Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602(b), (c), (g), (h) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  9. New York: you can cancel at any time with a simple mechanism "as easy as" sign-up, through the same medium, and through every medium used to sign up (in person → also online or by phone). No hanging up, false information or unreasonable delay; save offers may not obstruct.

    N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(d), (d-1), (e) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  10. A price increase needs your consent, or the business must let you cancel within at least 14 days after the charge with a pro-rata refund. Notice of material or price changes 5 business days to 30 days before; for terms of a year or more renewing for 6 months or more, a reminder 15 to 45 days before the cancel deadline; for trials over a month, a reminder 3 to 21 days before the first charge.

    N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(b-1), (f), (g), (h) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  11. Not covered in New York: franchise-based services (for example cable), entities regulated by the Department of Financial Services, alarm operators, banks and credit unions, service contracts.

    N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(4) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  12. The strengthened New York rules took effect Nov 5, 2025 (per law-firm summaries); the budget bill was signed May 9, 2025.

    Governor of New York, May 9, 2025 (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Secondary source

  13. NYC's Click to Cancel rule took effect Oct 1, 2026: cancel through the same medium you signed up with; signed up in person → also an online way (website or email); goods sent without consent are an unconditional gift; renewal, trial and price-change notices like New York State's; restitution of amounts charged after your first attempt to cancel.

    6 RCNY §§ 5-110 – 5-110.3 (Notice of Adoption) (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  14. NYC penalties: $525 for a first violation, $1,050 for a second, $3,500 for a third or later.

    Notice of Adoption, 6 RCNY § 6-47 (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  15. Not covered by the NYC rule: franchise-based services, DFS-regulated entities, NYS-licensed alarm operators, banks, credit unions and other licensed financial institutions, and service-contract sellers.

    6 RCNY § 5-110.3 (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

  16. NYC complaints: online form, 311, phone, mail or fax.

    NYC DCWP: Click to Cancel (opens in new tab) · Checked Oct 11, 2026

    Primary source

See what your own subscriptions cost and print a cancel list with the subscription audit, or find the official steps on How to cancel.