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

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="Image: Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images | AFP via Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="AFP via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2294777879.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Image: Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images | AFP via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">New York City residents struggling to get out of recurring subscription fees can now submit complaints to the city government. As of Thursday, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/964165/nyc-is-resurrecting-a-court-stricken-click-to-cancel-rule">the city's click-to-cancel rule</a> has taken effect, which requires businesses to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up. That means a gym that lets you join online, for example, can't make you call or go in person to end your subscription.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">It's the first municipality to see the rule take effect, after an <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/702398/ftc-click-to-cancel-rule-struck-down-appeals-court">appeals court struck down a federal version</a> for procedural issues. The city expects it to save New Yorkers anywhere from <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/about/PublicComments-Proposed-Rules-Cancellation-of-Subscriptions.pdf">$21.5 million to $162.5 million</a> annually. And to NYC Depar …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1003426/nyc-click-to-cancel-subscriptions-rule">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>