Uber’s back in the headlines—and not for anything cool like launching flying cars or rescuing kittens in Teslas. Nope, this time, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has them in its crosshairs over Uber One, the company’s flagship subscription service. The problem? Canceling it is like trying to escape a timeshare presentation in Orlando. 

Uber One, launched in late 2021, boasts over 25 million subscribers. For $9.99 a month, you get discounts on rides and Uber Eats orders. Sounds like a sweet deal, right? But here’s the dilemma: canceling is a b***h. According to the FTC, customers have reported that unsubscribing feels like running a marathon while wearing flip-flops… possible but unnecessarily painful.

By the way, it’s not just a few random complaints. Google search data shows a massive surge in queries like “How to cancel Uber One” (you’ll need patience, determination, and maybe a stiff drink).

It’s not just Uber: The FTC has been on a mission lately, pushing its click-to-cancel rule. The idea is simple: if signing up takes one click, canceling should be somewhat simple too. Sounds logical, but apparently, some companies (cough Uber, Amazon, Adobe) didn’t get the memo.

To be fair, Uber insists that you can cancel your membership in “20 seconds or less.” But given the number of consumer complaints rolling into the FTC (70 a day, up from 42 in 2021), either people are slow clickers or Uber’s version of “easy” is like saying solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded is easy.

Uber’s alleged tactic falls under what the tech world calls “dark patterns”... design strategies that make canceling subscriptions about as fun as dental surgery. Think: endless pop-ups asking, “Are you sure?” or hiding the cancel button on the page like a “Where’s Waldo?” book.

Dark patterns are so effective they’ve become the subscription industry’s unofficial mascot. Americans now spend an average of $91 a month on subscriptions, and nearly half admit they’ve forgotten to cancel a free trial at least once. 

The FTC reportedly tried to settle with Uber earlier this year, but the proposed “enormous monetary amount” had the company saying, “Hard pass.” Now, Uber’s playing defense, claiming their process is legal and user-friendly. (Cue eye-rolls from frustrated subscribers everywhere.) But this isn’t just about Uber. The FTC is sending a message to all companies banking on your laziness: make canceling simple, or prepare to pay up.

Despite the refund dilemma, Uber’s stock has had a pretty solid year. Shares are up about 100% in 2024, driven by strong revenue growth, cost-cutting measures, and an expanding customer base. Investors seem to believe in Uber’s “we’re more than just rides” strategy, which has included doubling down on Uber Eats and exploring new ventures like advertising. But as well all know, headlines like this can sour sentiment fast.

In the meantime, if you’re stuck in Uber One purgatory, maybe try their “20-second” cancellation promise. But don’t be surprised if it takes a bit longer (and a lot more patience).

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Stock.News has positions in Uber, Amazon, and Adobe mentioned in article.