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FTC announces "click-to-cancel" rule making it easier to cancel subscriptions

(www.ftc.gov)
1737 points pseudolus | 9 comments | 16 Oct 24 13:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.219s | source | bottom
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amatecha ◴[16 Oct 24 14:58 UTC] No.41859836[source]▶
Nice. I canceled a service recently and I had to "continue to cancel" and click on other such "confirmations" such that I think I proceeded through 7-8 pages before my subscription was actually canceled. Truly manipulative and obtuse. That was Spotify btw. I should have recorded the process, as it was nearly comedic (if it weren't so hostile).
replies(5): >>41859869 #>>41860119 #>>41861027 #>>41861075 #>>41864402 #
1. battle-racket ◴[16 Oct 24 16:30 UTC] No.41861027[source]▶
At least they didn't make you make a phone call and have a rep try to prevent you from doing so for an hour (looking at you NYT).
replies(4): >>41861748 #>>41861955 #>>41862242 #>>41869521 #
2. ClarityJones ◴[16 Oct 24 17:47 UTC] No.41861748[source]▶
The phone rep is almost easier, because all they can do is withhold their confirmation. So, I told the Sirius guy who I was and that they were no longer authorized to charge my card, hung up, and wrote a note in my files. Sirius charged me again, and I submitted a chargeback. Quick and easy.
replies(2): >>41863383 #>>41865085 #
3. kemitche ◴[16 Oct 24 18:10 UTC] No.41861955[source]▶
NYT has had click to cancel for a few years at this point. Were they later than they should be? Yes. Are they bad now? No.
replies(2): >>41862078 #>>41865472 #
4. ProfessorLayton ◴[16 Oct 24 18:22 UTC] No.41862078[source]▶
I don't know how NYT has been handling cancellations in other states, but California has required companies to allow cancellations in the same form as sign ups for a few years (Sign up online requires the ability to cancel online too).
5. janalsncm ◴[16 Oct 24 18:35 UTC] No.41862242[source]▶
AAA also makes you cancel over the phone during business hours.
6. Twirrim ◴[16 Oct 24 20:15 UTC] No.41863383[source]▶
Sirius were obnoxious when I didn't convert from free to paid, on a service I wasn't using. The number of times I got phone calls and emails from them ended up with me repeating to them that their behaviour was guaranteeing I would never use them, and would tell friends not to either.
7. nijave ◴[16 Oct 24 23:53 UTC] No.41865085[source]▶
Unless you're on hold >1 hour since they have no one staffing the call center.

Even worse when their crappy VOIP software insta hangs up when you're up in the queue and you get kicked to the back to wait longer.

8. tuatoru ◴[17 Oct 24 01:08 UTC] No.41865472[source]▶
Not bad now? Yeah, right. They're still barely complying with the law.

I hope this new law comes with domain cancellation and registration blocking penalties.

9. slumberlust ◴[17 Oct 24 13:33 UTC] No.41869521[source]▶
I was on phone support for a SaaS based company that did something similar. Massive pricing restructuring increasing 90% of accounts bill and they made you call in and wait on hold to cancel. This was 10 years ago, but the ruling is a welcome pro-consumer addition.