Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act

This bill aims to stop unwanted subscription renewals and surprise charges. Companies would have to clearly tell you if a plan renews automatically and how to cancel. For subscriptions that renew unless you cancel, they must remind you at least 7 days before each renewal and offer simple ways to cancel online, plus a toll‑free number, email, or mail option. They also must get your clear OK every year before charging again, and if they know you haven’t used the service for 6 months, they must get your OK again and tell you that you can end the deal and get a prorated refund. Free trials that turn into paid plans would have similar protections: notice at least 7 days before the trial ends, easy ways to cancel, and your clear OK before any charge. If a company breaks these rules, the auto‑renew part is void, the contract ends, and you get your money back for charges caused by the violation. Trick designs (“dark patterns”) don’t count as real consent .

• Who is affected: Consumers who sign up for goods or services with automatic renewals or free trials, and the businesses that sell them .
• What changes: Clear disclosures; 7‑day renewal and free‑trial notices; easy online and other cancellation options; yearly consent; extra consent if unused for 6 months; right to a prorated refund; “dark patterns” don’t count as consent .
• Enforcement: The Federal Trade Commission can enforce these rules, treat violations as unfair or deceptive, and write new rules to stop unfair practices around free trials and auto‑renewals where silence counts as acceptance.
• Exceptions and timing: Some service contracts or other cases the FTC chooses may be exempt. The rules would start 1 year after the law is enacted .