The Click to Cancel rule is supposed to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for one. Viva Tung/Getty Images
It's easy to rack up streaming subscriptions and other monthly services with just a few taps or clicks. Cancelling them, however, can be a bit trickier.
The Federal Trade Commission's "click to cancel" rule would have made it easy to cancel unwanted subscriptions. However, this rule, was blocked by the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on July 8, a week before it was set to go into effect.
"While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission's rulemaking process are fatal here," the court's ruling stated. The court ruling went on to explain that the FTC failed to conduct a preliminary regulatory analysis, which is required for rules that could impact the US economy by more than $1 million.
As CNET's consumer insights editor and someone with quite a few subscriptions, I was looking forward to this rule being finalized. Last month, I shared that most of us spend over $1,000 a year on subscriptions and waste around $200 a year on unwanted apps. Yet, companies don't always make it easy to cancel. Some hide their cancellation buttons or require you to call or visit an office location just to cancel.
If you're struggling to identify all of your subscriptions or need help canceling them, here's what CNET experts recommend.
How to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions
Before you can cancel your subscriptions, you'll want to do an audit to make sure you flag any services you no longer want to pay for.
You can spot unwanted subscriptions by combing through your bank account and credit card statements from the past month and looking for recurring charges. If you spot any unwanted subscriptions, log in to your service account and cancel or pause the service. If you're struggling to find an option to cancel, call the service's customer service phone number to end your account. In some cases, like with certain gym memberships, you may be required to cancel in person.
This app can cancel subscriptions for you
... continue reading