ROSCA: your federal right to stop recurring charges

What ROSCA says

The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8401–8405) is the main federal law for subscriptions sold online. When a business charges you on a recurring basis — a "negative option" where silence means you keep paying — it must:

• clearly disclose the material terms (price, how often you're charged, how to cancel) before collecting your billing information;
• get your express informed consent before charging you;
• provide simple mechanisms to stop recurring charges.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces ROSCA, along with Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bans unfair and deceptive practices.

What "simple" means in practice

ROSCA doesn't spell out a specific button, but the FTC has repeatedly taken action against companies whose cancellation flows were confusing, hidden or full of obstacles. Many states go further and explicitly require online cancellation — see state auto-renewal laws and the California law.

What about the FTC "click-to-cancel" rule?

The FTC adopted a broader click-to-cancel rule in 2024, but a federal appeals court vacated it in July 2025 before most of it took effect. The FTC restarted the rulemaking process in 2026. Meanwhile, ROSCA and state laws still apply. Details in FTC click-to-cancel rule: where it stands.

How to use your rights

1. Cancel through the company's own online option and screenshot each step.
2. If there's no simple way, send a written request — our cancellation letter template cites ROSCA.
3. If charges continue, stop the payment with your bank or dispute the charge, and report the company.