Exactly how to cancel any free trial before it converts to a paid subscription — and what to do if you get charged anyway. This guide applies specifically to New York Times ($4-$25/mo) subscribers in Aurora, Colorado. Colorado's Auto-Renewal Consumer Protection protects you.
Colorado's Auto-Renewal Consumer Protection (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-732) gives Aurora residents specific protections when dealing with New York Times:
Penalties: Deceptive trade practice with treble damages available
Applied to New York Times (Phone or chat) for Aurora residents
Set a reminder 2 days before the trial ends
The moment you sign up for a free trial, set a calendar reminder for 2 days before it ends. This gives you a buffer in case the cancellation process takes time to process.
Find the trial end date
Check your signup confirmation email for the exact trial end date. Log into your account → Billing to see the next charge date. Mark it explicitly.
Cancel through the same channel you signed up
Under the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule, you must be able to cancel the same way you signed up. If you signed up online, they must let you cancel online.
Screenshot your cancellation confirmation
After canceling, take a screenshot of the confirmation page. Save the confirmation email. This is your proof if they charge you after the trial.
Verify no charge on your next statement
Check your bank or card statement after the trial end date. If charged, cite ROSCA (15 USC § 8403) and request an immediate refund — unclear trial terms are illegal.
Method: Phone or chat · Difficulty: hard
New York Times-specific tips
No refund for current billing period.
Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-732, Aurora residents may be entitled to a full refund if New York Times didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-732 for Aurora residents