How to permanently disable auto-renewal so you never get surprised by an unexpected renewal charge again. This guide applies specifically to New York Times ($4-$25/mo) subscribers in New York, citing applicable state and federal law.
New York's Auto-Renewal Law (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527) gives you specific protections when dealing with New York Times subscriptions:
Penalties: Violations subject to AG enforcement and consumer private action
Applied to New York Times (Phone or chat) in New York
Log into your account settings
Go to the service's website (not app, unless it's an app-store subscription). Navigate to Settings → Billing → Subscription or Plan.
New York note: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527 requires New York Times to provide an easy cancellation mechanism.
Look for 'Auto-Renewal' or 'Recurring Billing' toggle
Most services have an explicit auto-renewal toggle. Turn it off. You will typically keep access until your current paid period ends, then it won't renew.
Get written confirmation
After toggling, screenshot the settings page and save any confirmation email. If they charge you after disabling auto-renewal, you have documented proof.
For app-store subscriptions, disable in the store
iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → [App] → Turn off Renew. Google Play: Manage subscriptions → Cancel. The app itself cannot see these settings.
Set a final billing date reminder
Note when your current period ends. After that date, verify no charge appears. If you see a charge after disabling auto-renewal, that is an unauthorized charge.
Method: Phone or chat · Difficulty: hard
New York Times-specific tips
No refund for current billing period.
Under N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527, you may be entitled to a full refund if New York Times didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to New York Times in every state, including New York:
SubScrub auto-cites N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527 + sends legally-backed letters