New York City is coming for companies that make it hard to cancel subscriptions

The Mamdani administration is cracking down on companies that won't let you unsubscribe.

ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images Have you ever tried to cancel a gym or Internet subscription and ended up in a phone loop? A new rule in New York City aims to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up for memberships.

Companies that don't let consumers easily unsubscribe could pay thousands.

Alex Aminov, 37, doesn't know why he's on his current phone plan , or how much he's paying for it.

Recently, the Brooklyn-based software developer said he tried to cancel the landline included in his Optimum internet package, which cost an extra $25 a month.

When he called to try to cancel it — the only way to get through — a representative convinced him that it would be cheaper to transfer the line to a mobile plan, and that he'd be eligible for a slew of discounts.

He said that representative told him they'd follow up to ensure that the transfer went through so the discounts could go into effect; she never called him back.

When he got back in touch, a different representative said just some of those discounts would apply, and that they didn't know who he originally spoke with.

A week or so later, a third representative called to ask why he wasn't using the number.

He's still not quite sure what's happening with his various plans.

"Telecom providers or basically almost anything that has a monthly subscription, it's a nightmare to cancel it," Aminov said.

"In general, I would like to have an option to cancel anything online." An Optimum spokesperson said, "We're committed to making it as easy as possible for customers to manage their services and get the support they need.

Each customer has different needs." New York City is addressing this very struggle.

As of October 1st, New Yorkers can file complaints against businesses that make canceling subscriptions unnecessarily difficult .