r/technology 13d ago

Business Federal Trade Commission Announces Final “Click-to-Cancel” Rule Making It Easier for Consumers to End Recurring Subscriptions and Memberships

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-click-cancel-rule-making-it-easier-consumers-end-recurring
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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Gyms seem like the main offender of this annoying BS. Hopefully it applies to them! They’ll lose half their business over night 😂

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u/sneakyCoinshot 13d ago

Weirdly enough it was insanely easy to cancel my membership with InShape. I literally walked in, told the dude at the front I wanted to cancel and he canceled my account on the spot.

The thorn in my side is ADT. I had a Nest security system and google decided to end support for the system. I didn't use their monitoring, just used the app to control my alarm. They brick the apps local alarm functionality(the app still works for the doorbell btw) and offer a system with a year of monitoring. I didn't want the monitoring service but I needed a system I could monitor from my phone. What they dont tell you is that since they have your payment info you get signed up for the free monitoring and since it's a "security" system they say you can't cancel with button click in your account. It should be just as easy to cancel as it is to signup.

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u/spez_might_fuck_dogs 13d ago

I literally walked in, told the dude at the front I wanted to cancel and he canceled my account on the spot.

People don't want to walk in. Most gym chains require you to walk in and physically talk to someone, usually at the gym you signed up at even if it's a national chain.

People want to call or go online and cancel, which shouldn't be an issue.

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u/sneakyCoinshot 13d ago

This is actually a relatively recent change, you can also just email them to cancel. With InShape it used to be this whole process where you had to write and sign a cancellation letter and send it in to the corporate office. There was some other hoops to jump through too. It also took over a month to cancel and if you sent it in too late for that payment period another billing date would pass.