United States
The FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule, an update to its Negative Option Rule adopted in 2024, was vacated by the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on 8 July 2025, before its main requirements took effect, on procedural grounds. In 2026 the FTC formally restored the earlier version of the rule and opened a new rulemaking process, so no new federal click-to-cancel requirement is currently in force.
Federal protection still exists. The Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) requires online sellers to clearly disclose the terms of a subscription before taking payment, get your express informed consent, and provide a simple way to stop recurring charges. Many states also have automatic renewal laws. California’s, strengthened from 1 July 2025, requires businesses to let consumers cancel online in the same way they signed up, among other things.
United Kingdom
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 includes a new regime for subscription contracts, with reminder notices, a cooling-off period on renewals and easy exit. It is not yet in force: in April 2026 the government said it expected the regime to start in spring 2027 at the earliest. Until then:
- the 14-day cancellation right applies to new online subscriptions;
- misleading or aggressive practices, including making cancelling unreasonably hard, can breach consumer law enforced by the CMA;
- if a subscription is charged to your card as a continuous payment authority, you can tell your card provider to stop the payments, and it must do so.
European Union
New online subscriptions come with the 14-day withdrawal right, and since June 2026 sellers must provide an online withdrawal button during that period. Unfair contract terms, such as hidden long automatic renewals, aren’t binding on consumers. Some countries go further: Germany, for example, has required a “cancel contracts here” button for ongoing consumer contracts concluded online since July 2022.
How to cancel: a practical checklist
- Look in your account settings and the app store (for subscriptions bought through Apple or Google, cancel there).
- Cancel in writing (email or the online form) and keep the confirmation. Screenshot each step.
- Check the renewal date, and cancel before it to avoid another charge.
- If the business makes cancelling impossible, ask your card provider to stop future payments, and dispute charges taken after you cancelled. See card disputes.
- Report subscription traps: to the FTC or your state attorney general (US), Citizens Advice (UK) or your national consumer authority (EU).
General information, not legal advice. This post reflects the position on the date shown. Check the official sources below for the latest rules.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
