Auto-Renewal Class Action Lawsuit
Class Action Lawyers Helping Defrauded Consumers
Golomb Legal is currently looking into claims from consumers who have been defrauded by a variety of companies that offer service memberships. Specifically, we are investigating claims from people who were forced into an auto-renewal membership or service subscription, oftentimes without even being aware that they had been made to auto-renew their membership. If this happened to you, then you should call our attorneys at (215) 278-4449 right now. If we hear from enough people who have been defrauded in the same way, then it might be possible to start a consumer class action.
Want to know more? Contact us now for a free consultation.
What is an Auto-Renewal Scheme?
It has become increasingly common for companies to offer their products and services through subscriptions. You can buy everything from music streaming to shower soap with a monthly or annual subscription, which is meant to save the consumer money while guaranteeing the seller some income. Most of these services end at a designated time or clearly alert the consumer that their listed credit card will be charged again on a certain day to renew the subscription for another month or year.
Auto-renewal schemes from dishonest companies often include two consumer violations:
- Hidden subscriptions: Some service providers and vendors hide the fact that purchasing anything from them will enroll the consumer in their subscription service. What seems like a one-time purchase is secretly a subscription with recurring fees. For example, the weight-loss and meal kit Optavia® has recently been accused of subtly forcing people to enroll in auto-enroll in its subscription service when buying a single item off its website, such as one bag of diet-friendly popcorn.
- Unannounced renewals: Another tactic used by dishonest service providers and vendors is to automatically renew a member’s subscription without notifying them at all. Rather than making multiple honest attempts to notify the consumer that they will be charged again soon unless they cancel the subscription, these companies charge them for a renewal without permission. They don’t always even notify the consumer about the renewal after the fact. For example, antivirus software company Norton® has been accused by some for making its software users auto-renew their annual product licenses without permission or notification, even when they have clicked a button in the software to cancel auto-renewal.
What Can You Sue For?
Companies that have knowingly defrauded their consumers by auto-renewing or auto-enrolling them in subscription services have violated various consumer protections and laws. Contract violations and misleading marketing are only two of the potential violations these businesses have committed. To bring them to justice, it is often up to the consumers themselves to take these companies to court.
Damages in an auto-renewal claim or class action could include:
- Money to repay consumers whatever they paid in auto-renewed subscriptions.
- Punitive damages to punish the company for its dishonest business practices.
Individual claims against these companies are possible, but consumer class actions are more likely. When there are dozens, hundreds, or thousands of claimants who have all been defrauded in the same way, a class action lawsuit can compile them into one plaintiff class, expediting the entire process.
Nationwide Auto-Renewal Claim Attorneys
At Golomb Legal, we have the legal knowledge and experience to assist with auto-renewal claims and class actions that are filed across the country. No matter what state you call home, our attorneys can help you with your case! Please call us at (215) 278-4449 today. The more potential clients we hear from, the stronger the potential class action becomes.
Arrange your no-cost consultationwith our award-winning team today.
