California Automatic Renewal Law (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17600-17606, as amended by AB 2863)

The clocks it starts

• Unfair Competition Law claim (4 years)Fatal if missedBusiness and Professions Code § 17208 gives four years from the accrual of the cause of action for a UCL claim, which is the vehicle for ARL restitution.California Business and Professions Code § 17200 (Unfair Competition Law) — § 17203 — restitution and injunctive relief; § 17208 — four-year limitation periodLimitation period
• Consumers Legal Remedies Act claim (3 years)Civil Code § 1783 gives three years from the commission of the method, act or practice. The 30-day § 1782 notice must be sent before a damages claim, so allow for it.California Civil Code § 1750 et seq. (Consumers Legal Remedies Act) — § 1780(a) — actual damages with a statutory minimum of $1,000, restitution, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney's fees; § 1782 — 30 days' written notice before a damages claimLimitation period
• CLRA pre-suit notice (30 days)Civil Code § 1782 requires 30 days' written notice by certified or registered mail, identifying the practice complained of and demanding correction, before a damages claim under the CLRA. A business that gives an appropriate correction within 30 days avoids damages — which is exactly the outcome you want.California Civil Code § 1750 et seq. (Consumers Legal Remedies Act) — § 1780(a) — actual damages with a statutory minimum of $1,000, restitution, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney's fees; § 1782 — 30 days' written notice before a damages claimNotice period

What it entitles you to, beyond money

• Anything you were sent is yours to keep§ 17603 deems goods delivered under a non-compliant automatic renewal an unconditional gift. Do not return them, and do not let the business condition your refund on returning them.§ 17603 — goods, wares, merchandise or products sent under an automatic renewal or continuous service arrangement in violation of the article are "for all purposes deemed an unconditional gift to the consumer"
• The Consumers Legal Remedies Act adds statutory damagesWhere the conduct also amounts to a deceptive practice under Civil Code § 1770, § 1780(a) allows actual damages with a statutory minimum of $1,000, restitution, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney's fees. § 1782 requires 30 days' written notice by certified mail before you may claim damages — send that notice early, because it costs nothing and it starts the clock.§ 1780(a) — actual damages with a statutory minimum of $1,000, restitution, punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney's fees; § 1782 — 30 days' written notice before a damages claim
• Cancel with the bank as well as the merchantRevoke the payment authority with your card issuer and ask for the merchant identifier to be blocked. A business that has already ignored one cancellation should not be trusted with the next billing cycle.

What the other side will say

Each of these is a refusal this regime lets a counterparty attempt, paired with the answer to it. Reading them before you write is worth more than any amount of polish on the letter itself.

Where to take it next

1. 01Written demand citing §§ 17602, 17603 and the CLRA noticeDemand immediate cancellation and refund of every charge under the non-compliant arrangement. Cite § 17603 for the unconditional-gift point and serve the Civil Code § 1782 notice by certified mail in the same letter — it costs a stamp and it converts the demand into one the business's legal team has to look at.Claim direct·typically 30 days
2. 02Card dispute for the post-cancellation chargesCharges taken after authority was withdrawn are unauthorised. Use 12 CFR § 1026.13 within 60 days of the statement on a credit card, or 12 CFR § 1005.11 on a debit card, and ask for the recurring authority to be cancelled.Claim direct·typically 30 days
3. 03California Attorney General and your district attorneyThe ARL is enforced by the Attorney General, district attorneys and city attorneys. California has an active record of ARL enforcement and complaints feed it. Filing is free and online.Regulator·typically 60 days·official page
4. 04California small claims courtSmall claims handles up to $12,500 for an individual, with no lawyers, a filing fee under $100 and a hearing usually within a couple of months. An ARL claim with the § 17603 gift remedy and a CLRA statutory minimum is well suited to it.Small claims·typically 90 days·official page