Your subscription cancellation rights in New York
New York requires clear disclosure of automatic renewal terms and accessible cancellation. What protections apply and how to use them when a company makes leaving difficult.
The short answer
New York regulates automatic renewals with requirements around clear disclosure of renewal terms and accessible cancellation mechanisms. The practical effect is that companies must tell you plainly that a subscription renews and what it will cost, and cannot rely on obscured terms to keep charging you.
Leutrim Miftaraj
Founder, SubTracker · Updated August 10, 2026
New York consumers have specific protections around automatically renewing subscriptions, aimed at the two tactics that cause most complaints: unclear renewal terms and cancellation processes designed to be difficult.
Disclosure of renewal terms
The central requirement is that automatic renewal terms be presented clearly before you agree, rather than in fine print you would have to hunt for. That covers the fact that the subscription renews, the amount, and the process for cancelling.
The practical value of this appears when disputing a charge: if renewal terms were not clearly presented, your position is considerably stronger than if they were.
Accessible cancellation
Requirements around how cancellation must be made available address the pattern of a one-click signup paired with a deliberately obstructive exit.
If a company you joined online insists you can only cancel by phone during limited hours, that is worth challenging in writing rather than complying with.
Free trials converting to paid
Trial conversions are a specific focus of consumer protection generally, because they combine a delayed charge with an easily-forgotten commitment. Requirements around notifying consumers before a trial converts exist to address exactly this.
Using these rights
Write rather than call. State when and how you subscribed, what you were shown, and that you are requesting cancellation and a refund of any charge made after your request.
Keep the record. Most disputes are settled by whoever has better documentation, and a written trail is far more persuasive than a recollection of a phone conversation.
Escalating
The New York Attorney General’s office accepts consumer complaints, as does the FTC at federal level. A complaint supported by dates, screenshots and copies of correspondence carries far more weight than a general grievance.
Practical script that works
When a company obstructs cancellation, the wording matters more than the volume. State three things: that you subscribed online on a specific date, that you are requesting cancellation effective immediately, and that you expect written confirmation. Then add that you are aware of New York’s automatic renewal requirements.
That last sentence changes how support handles the request more reliably than frustration does. It signals that a complaint would be informed rather than general.
Keep the evidence that actually matters
Three things carry weight in a dispute: a screenshot of the signup flow showing what disclosure you were given, the date and content of your cancellation request, and any charge that occurred after it.
The third is the strongest. A charge after a documented cancellation request is a straightforward position; a charge on a subscription you forgot about is not.
The federal layer
Federal rules on negative-option marketing and click-to-cancel apply alongside state law, which means you may have protections from more than one direction. Where state and federal rules both apply, the stronger one generally governs.
This page explains consumer protections in general terms and is not legal advice. Rules change and their application depends on your specific circumstances — check with the relevant consumer protection authority or a qualified adviser for your situation.
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does New York require companies to disclose about renewals?+
Automatic renewal terms must be presented clearly before you agree — that the subscription renews, what it costs, and how to cancel. If those terms were not clearly presented, your position when disputing a charge is considerably stronger.
Can a company make cancellation deliberately difficult?+
Requirements around accessible cancellation exist precisely to address one-click signup paired with an obstructive exit. If a company you joined online insists on phone-only cancellation, challenge it in writing rather than complying.
Where do I complain about a subscription company?+
The New York Attorney General’s office accepts consumer complaints, and the FTC handles them at federal level. Include dates, screenshots and copies of correspondence — documented complaints carry far more weight.
Do federal rules apply as well as state ones?+
Yes. Federal rules on negative-option marketing and click-to-cancel apply alongside state law, so you may have protections from more than one direction. Where both apply, the stronger protection generally governs.