NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Signing up for a subscription can take just a few seconds. Canceling it, however, can sometimes feel like a never-ending process.

New York City leaders say they’re trying to change that. Mayor Zohran Mamdani – along with his team – announced a new consumer protection measure Friday aimed at making it easier for New Yorkers to cancel subscriptions and memberships. City officials are calling it the nation’s first “Click-to-Cancel” rule.

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The policy is designed to prevent what officials describe as “subscription traps,” situations where consumers can easily sign up for a service but face confusing or time-consuming steps when trying to cancel. “Right now, companies make it easy to sign up for things and hard to cancel them,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su while announcing the initiative.

Under the new rule, businesses that allow customers to sign up online will also be required to provide an equally simple online cancellation process. “Because if you can sign up with one click, you should be able to cancel with one click,” Mayor Mamdani said.

For many New Yorkers, the change is welcome. “A lot of times you get caught. Next thing you know, you either can’t cancel or forgot to cancel, and you’re getting your credit card charged every month,” one commuter told PIX11. “If they make it so easy to sign up, they should make it just as easy to withdraw. They do it on purpose, to make it difficult.”

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Lauren Pierson, a New York City resident, said unwanted recurring charges can add up quickly. “If you’re stuck in a gym membership or an online membership, you’re paying money that you don’t have, especially in New York, where every penny counts,” she said.

City officials say the new rule is intended to eliminate unnecessary hurdles, such as forcing customers to navigate multiple webpages, make phone calls, or complete additional steps before canceling a subscription.

Businesses that fail to comply could face fines starting at $525 per violation, according to the city.

The “Click-to-Cancel” rule is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.

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