Federal Trade Commission trying to make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Signing up for subscriptions is easy, but canceling them is often harder than it should be. The Federal Trade Commission hears your complaints and has a possible solution.

The FTC’s proposed “click to cancel” option requires companies to make it as easy to cancel as it was to sign up.

Click to cancel is part of the agency’s review of the Negative Option Rule. It’s a 50-year-old legal framework that fights unfair subscription service practices. The proposal requires cancellations to be made in the same number of steps as it took to sign up. It also requires businesses to ask for permission before pitching reasons to stay and says they must send yearly renewal reminders.

“The proposal would save consumers time and money, and businesses that continued to use subscription tricks and traps would be subject to stiff penalties,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan.

At this stage, the proposal is just that – a possible approach that the FTC would like your feedback on. Once the notice is published in the Federal Register, consumers can submit comments electronically. They can also submit their thoughts in writing by following the instructions in the “Supplementary Information” section of the Federal Register notice.

In the meantime, AARP has a list of services that can help you manage recurring charges. Some are free, but you have to pay for others. The one that’s best for you really depends on who you are and what you’re subscribed to.