{"id":22648,"date":"2025-07-16T22:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T02:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=22648"},"modified":"2025-07-17T10:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:16:16","slug":"wyden-merkley-join-colleagues-to-introduce-bill-to-safeguard-consumers-from-online-subscription-traps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/wyden-merkley-join-colleagues-to-introduce-bill-to-safeguard-consumers-from-online-subscription-traps\/","title":{"rendered":"Wyden, Merkley, Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Safeguard Consumers from Online Subscription Traps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington DC<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are joining colleagues in reintroducing legislation that would protect consumers in Oregon and nationwide from online free trial scams and hard-to-cancel recurring-payment programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity (OPT-IN) Act<\/em> puts the responsibility on companies rather than consumers when it comes to subscriptions and memberships, including a shift from \u201copt-out\u201d default conditions  to \u201copt-in.\u201d This reintroduction comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit last week vacated the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s 2023 \u201cclick to cancel\u201d rule, which would have made it easier to get out of unwanted subscriptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cUnexpected charges and confusing websites can make unsubscribing from a service a headache,\u201d<\/strong> dijo Wyden. \u201cRelief was in sight, but Donald Trump\u2019s administration killed new protections for consumers and handed a huge gift to his corporate pals. I\u2019m proud to work with Sen. Van Hollen and my colleagues on the OPT-IN Act to ensure it\u2019s just as easy for Americans to unsubscribe from services as it is to sign up.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cConsumers shouldn\u2019t have to jump over roadblocks from greedy corporations to cancel a subscription,\u201d<\/strong> dijo Merkley. \u201cOur bill will make it as simple to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up \u2013 no tricks, no gimmicks, no waiting on hold. Let\u2019s pass this common-sense solution that makes sure Americans know what they\u2019re signing up for.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Companies increasingly use free trial offers and unclear terms and conditions to trap consumers into subscriptions. Additionally, companies often use software and interfaces that subtly trick users, making it harder for consumers to end these subscriptions and stop unwanted charges. While the FTC has dedicated significant resources to combating the worst of these business practices, more action is needed to effectively deter companies from employing these practices and better protect consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Espec\u00edficamente, the Consumer OPT-IN Act<\/em> har\u00eda: <\/p>\n\n\n\n