Bill Heffernan

Current consumer protection laws passed by the legislature have been updated and expanded effective July 1 to make it easier for residents to deal with, and if desired, cancel "automatic renewal" subscriptions.

Specifically, changes to the existing "click to cancel' law include requiring businesses to send reminders about automatic renewals including instructions on how to cancel, provide additional and easier cancelation options, and process cancelation requests promptly.

“For too long, corporations have designed deliberate, digital mazes to trap Connecticut residents into recurring payments they don't want. As the federal courts waver on protections, Connecticut is taking a definitive stand. By requiring companies to make cancelling a subscription just as fast and seamless as signing up, we are eliminating predatory junk fees, restoring basic fairness, and putting hard-earned money back into the pockets of our working families,” said Rep. Roland Lemar, House Chair of the legislature's General Law Committee.

In addition, a company cannot stipulate that a customer can only cancel an automatic renewal by mail or in person. If a company does not conduct business online, they must provide a phone number to allow people to call and cancel over the phone, including honoring voicemail requests to cancel. 

Former House Democrat and now Attorney General William Tong says businesses that fail to comply may be engaging in unfair trade practices, and that his office and the Department of Consumer Protection will not hesitate to fully enforce the law. 

Read more about Connecticut's new "click to cancel" law in this article from CT NewsJunkie.