New FTC Rule Bans Sneaky Subscription Tactics
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rolled out new “Click to Cancel” rules that require businesses to make unsubscribing as easy as signing up—no more hidden buttons, long calls, or endless pages.
According to the FTC, companies must now:
-
Let users cancel subscriptions with a simple online click.
-
Avoid making customers call or navigate multiple steps to unsubscribe.
-
Get permission before pitching alternative offers during cancellation.
As ABC News reports, these rules are designed to stop companies from using “dark patterns” that frustrate users into staying subscribed.
Why This Matters
Non-compliance could lead to legal trouble—and, more importantly, damage your brand’s trust.
How Vengo AI Makes It Easy
-
24/7 Smart Agents: Vengo AI guides users through cancellations clearly and compliantly—no hidden links.
-
Conversational & Transparent: Users get honest help with no tricks, plus polite retention messaging (when allowed).
-
Full Cancellation Logs: Understand why users leave and use the insights to improve your retention strategy.
5 Quick Tips to Cancel Subscriptions More Easily
-
🔍 Search for “Cancel” or “Manage Subscription” in your account dashboard before calling support.
-
📧 Use the same email you used to sign up when contacting support—it speeds up verification.
-
🗂️ Check your email inbox for original sign-up receipts, which often include direct cancel links.
-
🧠 Know your rights: If a company makes it harder to cancel than it was to sign up, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
-
📱 Use a virtual assistant like Vengo AI when available—they can guide you through cancellation in seconds, without hold music or hidden menus.
Making it easy to cancel shows that you respect your customers—and often leads to higher long-term loyalty. Misleading or tricking consumers into keeping products they don’t want is unethical. I personally believe that if you have a good product, you won’t need to rely on sneaky tactics. Customers will stay because they trust and value what you offer.
Stay compliant. Stay customer-first.
Visit www.vengoai.com to learn more.