House Approves Bill to Make it Easier to Cancel Automatic Renewals

DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bill sponsored by Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Yara Zokaie that would require sellers to provide consumers with an opportunity to cancel automatic renewal contracts either online or in person. SB25-145 passed 41-22, with 22 House Republicans voting to make it harder to cancel subscriptions.

“There is nothing more annoying than checking your credit card statement and seeing charges for a subscription service that you can’t find a way to cancel,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora. “This legislation would require businesses to make the cancellation process straightforward for consumers, saving Coloradans time cancelling unwanted subscriptions and money on services or products they don’t need.”

“While companies make it simple to start a subscription online, they often add extra steps to cancel,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “We live in an era where more services are subscription-based, and if you’re forced to pay a subscription just to access your home security cameras or watch TV, it shouldn’t be impossible to cancel. With this bill, we’re ensuring Coloradans can easily end their subscription services and prevent unwanted charges.”

SB25-145 would require sellers of goods and services to implement simple mechanisms for consumers to cancel automatic renewal contracts and trial periods either online or in person. Failure to do so would constitute a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.