What the FTC's Click-to-Cancel Rule means for your subscription rights and exactly how to use it when a company won't let you cancel. This guide applies specifically to Discovery+ ($4.99-$8.99/mo) subscribers in Joliet, Illinois. Illinois's Automatic Contract Renewal Act protects you.
Illinois's Automatic Contract Renewal Act (815 ILCS 601) gives Joliet residents specific protections when dealing with Discovery+:
Penalties: Renewal is void if notice requirements not met
Applied to Discovery+ (Website or app) for Joliet residents
Understand what the rule requires
The FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (16 CFR Part 425, effective 2024) requires: (1) clear disclosure of all terms before signup, (2) cancellation must be as easy as signup, (3) no dark patterns to obstruct cancellation.
Document the violation
Screenshot the cancellation flow. If you signed up with a single click but cancellation requires a phone call or in-person visit, that's a violation. Screenshot the difficult steps as evidence.
Send a written demand citing the Rule
Write to the company: 'Under 16 CFR Part 425 (FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule), you are required to provide a cancellation mechanism as simple as your signup process. I am demanding immediate cancellation and confirming this in writing.'
File an FTC complaint
Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov. Select 'Online Shopping' or 'Subscriptions'. Submit screenshots of the violation. The FTC uses these to build enforcement cases.
File a state AG complaint
Your state Attorney General can act on FTC Rule violations under state consumer protection laws. Many states have dedicated consumer protection units. File a complaint at your state AG's website.
Method: Website or app · Difficulty: easy
Discovery+-specific tips
No prorated refunds.
Under 815 ILCS 601, Joliet residents may be entitled to a full refund if Discovery+ didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites 815 ILCS 601 for Joliet residents