New York City to Ban Deceptive Subscriptions and Junk Fees
New York City to become first in US to ban deceptive subscription practices
New York City is set to become the first US city to ban deceptive subscription practices and hidden junk fees. Starting October 1, companies must offer simple cancellation methods or face hefty fines. The Mamdani administration also proposes requiring sellers to advertise total prices upfront, targeting predatory pricing in the housing market and beyond to protect consumers from hidden costs.
The current situation creates a scenario where rather than competing on price, companies are competing on their ability to hide the true price. That’s the worst kind of incentive – and one that deeply distorts the market.
- sxp
It's unclear whether this junk fee law will have teeth. In theory, California has the same anti-drip pricing law, but restaurants have a specific carve out [1] which is bullshit because the drip pricing that most people complain about is the X% "service charges" and "lifestyle fees" that restaurants have at the bottom of their menu in small print.
From what I can tell online, NYC rules won't have this carveout, but I haven't eaten there recently so I can't confirm.
[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtm...
- gumby
These rules are great but “landmark” seems like puffery, as California has had such rules for quite a while.
Ironically that has meant it’s hard to unsubscribe from the New York Times except in California.
- xp84
I wonder if the bit about 'junk fees' will include undisclosed hotel fees. I just stayed there last week in a no-frills "hotel" which doesn't include daily room cleaning, has no staff at night, and has no amenities whatsoever, and they charged me a surprise-at-check-in $35 a night resort fee. This fee was not described in the booking.
- bkeyes
Funny this should come up today.
I just got a notice from my credit card company that Evernote just charged my credit card after 2 'successful' cancellations of my subscription each of the last 2 years, and the complete deletion of my account several months ago.
Hopefully these will become more widespread - I'm not in NY or CA.
- SkipperCat
This is what legitimate government looks like. Leaders actually advocating for the people who are being deceived by those in power instead of helping those in power.
While this may be a trivial issue, being able to cancel a gym or newspaper subscription, it sends a signal. Companies need to view customers as partners in a business transaction and not objects to be exploited.
- CSMastermind
Is this something that cities can really enforce? Like I get that NYC is a bit of an exception but let's say a 5 person town in Wyoming decides that they want to make this practice illegal and they all vote to do so. It's not clear to me that would mean anything at all.
- jzer0cool
Nintendo (subscription I have for my switch to access some older a classic games btw) is very good reminding me I have a subscription and whether I want to cancel (or renew). I don't have the email at hand but what I remember is thinking they really desire you to reflect to cancel (rather than a push to renew) if not wanting continued service. Sentiment of politeness and I find a good example what to do.
Also, not a subscription but seeing some dark practices after COVID onset at any fast-food like business (including cafes, juices, cupcakes, etc) where a preselected tip is selected. Default should be no.
- munk-a
I suppose right now there is no federal preemption - but I fully expect gym & similar lobbying at the federal level to get a rule in place to allow preemption challenges.
- petilon
Will New York City residents be able to avoid AT&T's "Administrative and Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee"?
https://www.al.com/news/2026/07/att-customers-your-cell-phon...
- mi_lk
Just want to add to the pile that The New York Times is notorious for its unsubscription shenanigan