deceptive subscription practices

NYC Bans Deceptive Subscription Practices, Sets National Precedent

New York City is implementing a new regulation prohibiting companies from employing deceptive subscription practices, aiming to protect consumers from being automatically enrolled in costly memberships. This rule, effective October 1st, includes substantial penalties for non-compliance, with potential fines of $525 per user subscription for businesses failing to offer straightforward cancellation methods. Additionally, the city is proposing a separate rule to ban “junk fees” by requiring upfront disclosure of the total price for all goods and services, encompassing mandatory additional charges. These initiatives represent a significant effort by the city to curb predatory corporate pricing and enhance consumer affordability.

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FTC Sues Uber for Deceptive Subscription Practices

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing Uber for allegedly deceptive subscription practices related to its Uber One service. The FTC claims Uber enrolled users without consent and made cancellations excessively difficult, requiring numerous steps. Uber denies these allegations, stating that cancellations are now easily performed within the app. This lawsuit marks the FTC’s first against a major US tech company since the start of President Trump’s second term. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of tech companies’ billing and consumer protection practices.

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