<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79775</law_id><section_number>59.1-207.46</section_number><catch_line>Making automatic renewal or continuous service offer to consumer; affirmative consent required; disclosures; prohibited conduct</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>59.1-200</reference><reference>59.1-207.47</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="17.8">Automatic Renewal Offers And Continuous Service Offers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No supplier making an <span class="dictionary">automatic renewal</span> or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer to a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> in the Commonwealth shall do any of the following: <a id="paragraph-285830" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Prior to the completion of the initial <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span>, fail to present the <span class="dictionary">automatic renewal offer terms</span> or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer terms in a <span class="dictionary">clear and conspicuous</span> manner before the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> becomes obligated on the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer and in visual proximity, or in the case of an offer conveyed by voice, in temporal proximity, to the request for consent to the offer. <a id="paragraph-285831" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Prior to the completion of the initial <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span>, charge the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>&#x2019;s credit or debit card or the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>&#x2019;s account with a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> for an automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> without first obtaining the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>&#x2019;s affirmative consent to the agreement containing the <span class="dictionary">automatic renewal offer terms</span> or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer terms. <a id="paragraph-285832" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Fail to provide an acknowledgment that includes the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel in a manner that is capable of being retained by the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>. If the offer includes a free <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, the supplier shall also disclose in the acknowledgment how to cancel the free <span class="dictionary">trial</span> before the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> pays or becomes obligated to pay for the goods or services. <a id="paragraph-285833" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A supplier making automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offers shall provide a toll-free telephone number, an electronic mail address, a postal address only when the supplier directly bills the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>, or another cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use mechanism for cancellation that shall be described in the acknowledgment specified in subdivision A 3. Each supplier making automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offers through an online website shall make available a conspicuous online option to cancel a recurring purchase of a good or service. <a id="paragraph-285834" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In the case of a <span class="dictionary">material</span> change in the terms of the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer that has been accepted by a <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> in the Commonwealth, the supplier shall, prior to implementation of the <span class="dictionary">material</span> change, provide the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> with a <span class="dictionary">clear and conspicuous</span> notice of the <span class="dictionary">material</span> change and provide information regarding how to cancel in a manner that is capable of being retained by the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span>. <a id="paragraph-285835" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A supplier making automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offers that include a free <span class="dictionary">trial</span> lasting more than 30 days shall, within 30 days of the end of any such free <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, notify the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> of his option to cancel the free <span class="dictionary">trial</span> before the end of the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> period to avoid an obligation to pay for the goods or services. <a id="paragraph-285836" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A supplier making automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offers that will automatically renew after a period of more than 30 days and extend the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer for a period of more than 12 months shall notify the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> of his option to cancel the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer no less than 30 days and no more than 60 days before the cancellation deadline or the end of the current <span class="dictionary">contract</span> term. Such notice shall conspicuously disclose (i) that the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer will automatically renew unless the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> cancels, (ii) the date by which the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> must cancel to avoid automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span>, (iii) the method by which the <span class="dictionary">consumer</span> may cancel, and (iv) a copy of the automatic renewal or <span class="dictionary">continuous service</span> offer provisions. <a id="paragraph-285837" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-207.46/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2018, c. 704; 2022, c. 557; 2023, c. 688; 2024, c. 452.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
