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 Seattle, Washington. Washington's Consumer Protection Act + Auto-Renewal protects you.
Washington's Consumer Protection Act + Auto-Renewal (Wash. Rev. Code § 19.86) gives Seattle residents specific protections when dealing with New York Times:
Penalties: CPA violation — treble damages plus attorney fees up to $25,000
Applied to New York Times (Phone or chat) for Seattle 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.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 19.86, Seattle residents may be entitled to a full refund if New York Times didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms.
SubScrub auto-cites Wash. Rev. Code § 19.86 for Seattle residents