Consumer Tip No. 110: Be Aware of Your Subscriptions

In honor of my Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, my assistant Gabriella Samuels is writing for my newsletter and blog a series of consumer tips inspired by TV reporter Elizabeth Margaret Danniher.

Cancelling an online subscription can be difficult. It is also frustrating when free trials automatically convert to paid subscriptions without warning. Companies such as Amazon and Adobe make canceling subscriptions obtuse through methods like having consumers call to cancel (despite signing up online) or without giving you notifications of your subscriptions.

Under President Biden’s administration, the Federal Trade Commission finalized a “Click-to-Cancel” rule that makes it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions. This was finalized in October 2024 to be fully implemented in July 2025.

The “Click-to-Cancel” rule would have required:

The cancellation process to be easy for consumers. If a consumer can subscribe online, they should be able to cancel online using the same process.Information about subscriptions, pricing, cancellation and renewal dates should be clear and concise.Before any charges are applied, consumers need to provide express consent regarding the negative option features of a subscription.

Unfortunately July 2025, this judgment was vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals, citing a procedural error by the FTC. You can read more about this ruling here. Note: depending on which state you live in, this rule might have been codified, meaning that the law for Click-to-Cancel is enforceable.

The FTC is currently preparing for another trial, particularly with Amazon and its Amazon Prime service.

Here are some tips on how to ensure you do not miss your trial cancellation dates and how to manage your subscriptions more efficiently.

Check your bank statements at least once a month for any recurring charges.Double check app stores like Apple Store and Google Play Store to check active subscriptions.Use a gift card or prepaid card when signing up for free trials to limit automatic payments.Consider using a calendar app or subscription managing apps like Rocket Money or PocketGuard, which can automatically track and help you cancel subscriptions.When cancelling, if you cannot find instructions online, contact the company directly to get the correct information.

Stay safe online and keep track of your subscriptions.t.

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