A New York state judge found SiriusXM Holdings liable in a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James that accused the satellite radio and streaming company. Making it very difficult for customers to cancel subscriptions,
In dismissing the claims alleging fraud and deceptive practices, Justice Lyle Frank of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan said Sirius’s policies violated the federal Restoring Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
Frank said Sirius made canceling a subscription “obviously not as easy as signing up”, requiring customers to speak in detail with trained live agents to prevent them from cancelling, and canceling. Five proposals from other services have to be heard before permission is given.
The judge said Sirius would have to change its cancellation practices to comply with the law, and pay unspecified damages.
Sirius said Friday it would appeal the Nov. 21 decision.
It also said that it would follow federal trade commission rules Businesses need to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up.
The “click-to-cancel” rule takes effect On January 14, 2025.
James sued Sirius last December, saying the New York-based company’s own data showed customers spent an average of 11-1/2 minutes canceling by phone and 30 minutes canceling online. Did it.
He said Sirius could cancel subscriptions with the click of a button, or let customers do so themselves.
“My office sued SiriusXM to protect consumers, and as a result of our actions, they will have to simplify their cancellation process to stop them from taking advantage of New Yorkers,” James said in a statement Friday.
