How to Cancel a Phone Plan or Wireless Contract: New York Times in Independence

How to cancel AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or any wireless carrier — including dealing with early termination fees and device payment plans. This guide applies specifically to New York Times ($4-$25/mo) subscribers in Independence, Missouri. The federal FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule protects you.

Your Rights in Independence, MO

The MPA (no specific auto-renewal law) (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 407.010) and federal FTC rules protect Independence residents:

Merchandising practices protections
Federal FTC rules apply
ROSCA for online subscriptions
AG enforcement and private action

How to Cancel a Phone Plan or Wireless Contract

Applied to New York Times (Phone or chat) for Independence residents

1
Check your contract for ETF and device balance
Log into your carrier account and look for: remaining device installment balance, early termination fee (ETF) if applicable, and contract end date. These are the main costs of switching.
2
Time your cancellation to minimize fees
Wait until after your billing cycle starts — you pay for the full month regardless. If you have a device installment plan, your final bill will include the remaining device balance.
3
Port your number before canceling
If keeping your number, port it to your new carrier FIRST. Porting automatically cancels your old account. Do NOT cancel before porting — you'll lose your number.
4
Call carrier retention to request cancellation
Call the carrier's cancellation line (not general support). Say: 'I want to cancel my service.' They will transfer you to retention. Decline any offers if you're decided. Ask for cancellation confirmation number.
5
Return any leased devices
If you leased a device (common with newer iPhone plans), you must return it within 30 days or be charged full retail price. Get a return receipt from any carrier store.

Cancel New York Times Specifically

Method: Phone or chat · Difficulty: hard

1Call 1-800-591-9233
2Or use NYT chat (nytimes.com/help)
3Request cancellation
4Confirm — they will offer retention deals

Tips for Independence Residents

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all have 'port-out' protection — set a PIN before porting to prevent unauthorized transfers
ETFs have mostly been phased out by the major carriers but still exist on some business plans
Military deployment, disability, and moving outside the carrier's service area are often grounds for fee-free cancellation
Check if your new carrier offers to cover your ETF or device balance as a 'switching promotion'
Cancel at least 2 business days before your next billing date to ensure the cancellation processes in time

New York Times-specific tips

Cannot cancel online — must call or chat
They WILL offer steep discounts (often $1/week)
Academic access may be available through your library
Gift subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled

New York Times Refund Policy

No refund for current billing period.

Watch Out For

· Cooking, Games, Athletic are separate subscriptions

Federal Laws Protecting Independence Residents

FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (16 CFR Part 425) — cancellation must be as easy as signup
ROSCA (15 USC § 8403) — requires clear disclosure and affirmative consent for online subscriptions
Fair Credit Billing Act (15 USC § 1666) — dispute unauthorized charges on credit cards
EFTA (15 USC § 1693) — protections against unauthorized debit charges

Independence subscriptions Cancel New York Times in Independence Cancel New York Times (all cities)How to Cancel a Phone Plan or Wireless Contract — Missouri guide How to Cancel a Phone Plan or Wireless Contract (general)

More New York Times Guides for Independence

How to Cancel Any Subscription How to Get a Refund After Cancellation How to Dispute an Unauthorized Subscription Charge How to Find All Your Subscriptions How to Cancel a Free Trial Before You Get Charged How to Stop Auto-Renewal on Any Subscription

Cancel a Phone Plan with SubScrub

SubScrub auto-cites 16 CFR Part 425 for Independence residents