The Federal Trade Commission has signed off on a “click-to-cancel” rule which requires subscription providers to simplify the unsubscribing process. This means PlayStation players will no longer have to jump through hoops if they decide to cancel PlayStation Plus.
FTC signs on click-to-cancel rule, making it easier to cancel PS Plus
As reported by Engadget, the click-to-cancel rule was first proposed last year which requires companies to make it as easy to cancel than it is to sign up for a subscription. With this new rule in place, it should prevent subscription holders from paying for services they no longer need, and eliminate the many barriers that are typically associated with canceling a subscription.
“Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” said Commission Chair Lina Khan. “The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”
The originally proposed rule did include other stipulations that did not make it into the final verdict. Initially, it proposed that companies must give customers annual reminders for subscription renewals. Additionally, it also required companies to receive consent from customers to discuss subscription modifications if they were planning on canceling the service.
Of course, this translates to PlayStation’s online service. When the rule does go into effect, it should be much easier to cancel PS Plus.
Just for fun, I wanted to see how many screens it took to cancel PS Plus. Beginning at the “Cancel Subscription,” players will see five different screens before they finally cancel their subscription. Two of the screens are there to convince subscription holders to keep the service. Another screen is there to provide a reason for the cancellation. The final screen tells customers when the subscription will expire, and that it can be turned on before the expiration date. So yeah, this new click-to-cancel should eliminate that prolonged process.
(Source: Engadget)