NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Unveils Click‑to‑Cancel and Junk‑Fees Ban

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel A. A. Levine announced a new set of consumer‑protection rules for New York City. The “Click‑to‑Cancel” rule, effective October 1, 2026, requires businesses that offer automatic‑renewal or continuous‑service subscriptions to let customers cancel in the same straightforward way they signed up, eliminating multi‑step “subscription trap” processes. The accompanying junk‑fees rule obliges firms to disclose the full, all‑in price of goods and services, including any mandatory charges, at the point of sale.

City officials estimate hidden fees cost an average family of four about $3,200 a year. The Click‑to‑Cancel measure alone could save New Yorkers between $21.5 million and $162.5 million annually. Companies that violate the rules face restitution to consumers and civil penalties starting at $525 per violation. A public comment period and hearing on the junk‑fees proposal are scheduled for August 7.

“This is the first municipal Click‑to‑Cancel rule in the United States,” Mamdani said. “If you can sign up with one click, you can cancel with one click.” Levine added that the policies aim to ensure “the price you see is the price you pay.”