Stephen Dubner

And how about in California, consumer-friendly California, which already has laws that are supposed to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. Even there, only 64% of the newspapers actually allowed online cancellation. And of those that did, 83% made the process sludgy.

And how about in California, consumer-friendly California, which already has laws that are supposed to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. Even there, only 64% of the newspapers actually allowed online cancellation. And of those that did, 83% made the process sludgy.

And how about in California, consumer-friendly California, which already has laws that are supposed to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. Even there, only 64% of the newspapers actually allowed online cancellation. And of those that did, 83% made the process sludgy.

In other words, firms purposely sludge up the cancellation process in order to discourage customers from canceling. But soon, this should be a thing of the past. Thanks in part to Mahoney's research and his work in the Biden White House, the FTC recently enacted a rule known as click to cancel. Here's how then-FTC chair Lina Khan put it when the rule was proposed.

In other words, firms purposely sludge up the cancellation process in order to discourage customers from canceling. But soon, this should be a thing of the past. Thanks in part to Mahoney's research and his work in the Biden White House, the FTC recently enacted a rule known as click to cancel. Here's how then-FTC chair Lina Khan put it when the rule was proposed.

In other words, firms purposely sludge up the cancellation process in order to discourage customers from canceling. But soon, this should be a thing of the past. Thanks in part to Mahoney's research and his work in the Biden White House, the FTC recently enacted a rule known as click to cancel. Here's how then-FTC chair Lina Khan put it when the rule was proposed.

Some businesses too often trick customers into paying for subscriptions they no longer want or didn't sign up for in the first place. The proposal would save consumers time and money, and businesses that continued to use subscription tricks and traps would be subject to stiff penalties. The penalty phase, with potentially large fines, begins in May of this year.

Some businesses too often trick customers into paying for subscriptions they no longer want or didn't sign up for in the first place. The proposal would save consumers time and money, and businesses that continued to use subscription tricks and traps would be subject to stiff penalties. The penalty phase, with potentially large fines, begins in May of this year.

Some businesses too often trick customers into paying for subscriptions they no longer want or didn't sign up for in the first place. The proposal would save consumers time and money, and businesses that continued to use subscription tricks and traps would be subject to stiff penalties. The penalty phase, with potentially large fines, begins in May of this year.

Click to cancel is part of a bigger agenda on what are called junk fees that Mahoney worked on in the White House.

Click to cancel is part of a bigger agenda on what are called junk fees that Mahoney worked on in the White House.

Click to cancel is part of a bigger agenda on what are called junk fees that Mahoney worked on in the White House.

Yes, that was the apex of the launch. The junk fees agenda was meant to address problems like the one that Mahoney described in last week's episode.

Yes, that was the apex of the launch. The junk fees agenda was meant to address problems like the one that Mahoney described in last week's episode.

Yes, that was the apex of the launch. The junk fees agenda was meant to address problems like the one that Mahoney described in last week's episode.

Presidential administrations, of course, change. And there's no guarantee that a regulatory agenda like this one will continue as planned. But for now, both click to cancel and all in upfront pricing are set to become the norm. Mahoney says there is broad support for this kind of thing.

Presidential administrations, of course, change. And there's no guarantee that a regulatory agenda like this one will continue as planned. But for now, both click to cancel and all in upfront pricing are set to become the norm. Mahoney says there is broad support for this kind of thing.

Presidential administrations, of course, change. And there's no guarantee that a regulatory agenda like this one will continue as planned. But for now, both click to cancel and all in upfront pricing are set to become the norm. Mahoney says there is broad support for this kind of thing.

Criticize it as government going too far, government getting in the business of business?

Criticize it as government going too far, government getting in the business of business?