What is the Unsubscribe Act?

The Unsubscribe Act is a proposed bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives designed to ban complex and deliberately difficult subscription cancellation processes.

How much money do Americans lose on subscriptions?

On average, U.S. households lose approximately $127 annually on subscriptions they forget to cancel or struggle to end.

Who are Mark Takano and Mark Amodei?

Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV) are the bipartisan sponsors reintroducing the Unsubscribe Act.

Home / Business and Economy / Bipartisan 'Unsubscribe Act' Aims to Simplify Subscription Cancellations

Bipartisan 'Unsubscribe Act' Aims to Simplify Subscription Cancellations

13 Jan

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Summary

New bill aims to ban deliberately complex subscription cancellation processes.
Average American household wastes $127 annually on unused subscriptions.
Companies must obtain explicit consent before charging after trial periods.

A bipartisan legislative effort, the Unsubscribe Act, is slated for reintroduction in the House, seeking to prohibit deliberately complicated subscription cancellation processes. This move addresses the significant financial drain on consumers, with average U.S. households reportedly wasting $127 annually on subscriptions they no longer use or cannot easily end.

The proposed legislation would require companies to obtain explicit customer consent before initiating charges after free or discounted trial periods conclude. Furthermore, it aims to ensure that cancelling a service is as straightforward as signing up for one, while also forbidding automatic enrollment into contracts and mandating periodic customer notifications regarding charges and cancellation options.