The universal playbook for canceling any subscription service — streaming, SaaS, fitness, or otherwise — with legal protections cited. This guide applies specifically to New York Times ($4-$25/mo) subscribers in Houston, Texas. The federal FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule protects you.
The DTPA (no specific auto-renewal law) (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.41) and federal FTC rules protect Houston residents:
Applied to New York Times (Phone or chat) for Houston residents
Find your billing method
Check whether you subscribed directly (company website), through Apple, Google, or your bank. The billing source determines WHERE you cancel — not the company's app.
Locate the cancellation path
Log into your account → Settings → Billing or Subscription. Under the FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule, cancellation must be as easy as signup.
Document your cancellation
Screenshot the cancellation confirmation screen. Note the date, time, and any confirmation number. This is your legal protection if they keep charging you.
Watch your next billing statement
Check your statement after the next billing date. If you see a charge after cancellation, you have grounds for a chargeback citing the date you canceled.
Block the merchant if needed
If the company charges you again, call your card issuer and request a merchant block. This prevents future charges even without the company's cooperation.
Method: Phone or chat · Difficulty: hard
New York Times-specific tips
No refund for current billing period.
SubScrub auto-cites 16 CFR Part 425 for Houston residents