Contract trap · Subscription
Cancellation obstacle course
Cancellation is technically online but requires many screens, repeated 'are you sure', mandatory retention offers, surveys, re-authentication or a final confirmation email; if any step is skipped the subscription is not cancelled and billing continues; 'pause instead' options re-enrol.
- Severity
- Expensive
- How often it turns up
- Common
- Holds up?
- Often void
- Clause phrases
- 18
What it looks like in a contract
Redline matches these phrases against your document verbatim. Drafters rarely invent new wording — they copy it, which is why the same sentences turn up across unrelated contracts.
In English-language contracts
- are you sure you want to cancel
- keep my benefits
- pause instead
- before you go
- your cancellation will be complete once you confirm
- you must complete all steps
- cancellation is not final until
- special offer to stay
- continue cancelling
- we're sorry to see you go
In Russian-language contracts
- вы уверены, что хотите отменить
- оставить подписку
- специальное предложение перед отменой
- приостановить вместо отмены
- отмена вступит в силу после подтверждения
- необходимо подтвердить отмену по ссылке из письма
- заявка на отключение рассматривается в течение
- воспользуйтесь скидкой и останьтесь
Check your own contract
Paste a clause, a page or the whole document. Nothing leaves your browser: the matching runs here, on this page, against the phrases above.
Why it bites
Regulators documented 4 pages/6 clicks/15 options (Amazon 'Iliad') and up to 23 screens/32 actions (Uber One); consumers believe they cancelled and are billed for months.
Is it enforceable where you are
The same clause can be routine in one country and void in another. What follows is what the law says where you are — not advice on your particular contract.
In the US, ROSCA and state automatic-renewal laws such as California's ARL apply; in the EU, Directive 93/13 Annex 1(h) and national reminder rules (Germany §309 Nr. 9 BGB, France's loi Chatel) govern renewal.
United States
FTC treats obstructive flows as ROSCA/Sec. 5 violations (Amazon 2023-2025, Uber 2025, Chegg 2025, Cleo AI 2025); CA ARL 'click to quit' requires immediate online cancellation without engagement with tricks.
- Cited
- FTC
- ROSCA
European Union
Dark patterns in cancellation are aggressive/misleading practices under UCPD (Commission 2021 guidance); Germany §312k two-click button; France three clicks; Digital Fairness Act expected to codify.
- Cited
- Digital Fairness Act
- UCPD
United Kingdom
DMCC Act 2024 unfair-practices regime with direct CMA fining powers (up to 10% of turnover); DMCC subscription regime requires exit in a single communication without unnecessary steps.
- Cited
- CMA
- DMCC Act 2024
Russia
From 1 Mar 2026 (376-ФЗ от 15.10.2025, ст. 16.1 п. 4.2 ЗоЗПП) the consumer's refusal to have stored payment credentials used must be accepted, including electronically, and charging must stop; Роспотребнадзор reads the amendment as requiring exit no harder than sign-up; ст. 16 п. 2 пп. 13 voids terms limiting the means of exercising rights.
- Cited
- 376-ФЗ
- ст. 16 п. 2 пп. 13
- ст. 16.1 п. 4
Where this has actually happened
Regulator actions, court rulings and the contracts they were fought over.
- FTC v. Amazon (Prime 'Iliad' flow: 4 pages, 6 clicks, 15 options; $2.5B settlement 2025)
- FTC v. Uber (Uber One: up to 23 screens and 32 actions to cancel; 2025)
- FTC v. Chegg (2025 settlement) and FTC v. Cleo AI ($17M, 2025) — difficult cancellation among other counts
- FTC and Illinois AG v. Grubhub ($25M; Grubhub+ subscription practices; 2024)
What to do
In order, from the thing that takes a minute to the thing that takes a letter.
- Complete the flow until you receive a cancellation confirmation with a reference
- Screenshot each step
- Verify the card is not charged next cycle
- If re-billed, cite ROSCA/FTC precedents and chargeback
- In EU/UK cite cancellation-button/easy-exit rules
- RU: refusal must be accepted electronically (ст. 16.1 п. 4.2 ЗоЗПП).
Traps that travel with it
Drafters who use one of these usually use several.