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Tech-giant Apple has been hit with a class action lawsuit for an “unlawful and unconscionable clause” in its terms and conditions that allows the company to terminate users’ accounts without warning or explanation, the claim alleges.
The nationwide class action lawsuit was filed in California on April 20 by lead Plaintiff Matthew Price. Price, a Cambria County, Pennsylvania, resident, says that Apple terminated his Apple ID account without any warning, barring him from being able to access his more than $24,000 worth of purchases.
According to the class action lawsuit, the purchases included services, Apps, and Content — including in-App purchases, programs and platform extensions. Price also had $7 in credit on his account, the claim states.
Apple ID accounts have unique log in details allowing users to access their profiles where their purchases are stored and managed, as well as giving users access to a variety of other Apple add-ons.
Price says that Apple terminated his account when the company suspected him of breaching its terms and conditions, but due to the clause in question Apple did not have to confirm a breach occurred or give Price notice or explanation before shutting down his Apple ID.
“Apple’s continuing imposition and enforcement of the unconscionable and unlawful clause in its Terms and Conditions, granting Apple unfettered discretion to terminate its customers’ Apple IDs merely on suspicion of a breach of the same and imposing a prohibited liquidated damages provision, constitutes unlawful business practices in violation of Bus. & Prof.Code §§ 17200 et seq,” the class action lawsuit alleges.
According to the claim, Apple’s termination of Price’s Apple ID, and those of other Apple users, “is unconscionable, void, and unenforceable.”
The clause in Apple’s terms and conditions unreasonably favors the company and is “unduly harsh” to users, the claim states. “For example, Apple only has to suspect that its customers breached its Terms and Conditions and it can seize their property.”
Price wants to represent Apple users nationwide who had their Apple ID account deleted due to Apple’s “Termination and Suspension of Service” provision, and a subclass of users who had their accounts deleted while they had a positive credit balance. He is suing for unfair business practices, unjust enrichment, and violations of numerous state laws.
Price is seeking certification of the Class, injunctive relief, restitution, damages, attorneys’ fees, and a jury trial.
Over the past few years Apple has been at the center of numerous lawsuits. In 2020, Apple paid out millions of dollars in settlements after it was hit with various class action lawsuits.
The company paid out $18 million in a FaceTime settlement to users who owned an Apple iPhone 4 or 4s and were using an iOS6 or earlier operating system and had not been “jailbroken.” The company faced allegations that it manipulated the FaceTime app, causing it to fail for consumers who were running an old operating system on their iPhones. FaceTime is a video calling service available for iPhone users.
Also last year, Apple agreed to pay $500 million to settle one U.S. class action lawsuit over its iPhones’ battery life, with a significant payout of $500 to each Class Member.
Do you have an Apple ID account? How would you feel if your account was deleted without an explanation? Let us know in the comments section!
Price is represented by Jonathan Shub and Kevin Laukaitis of Shub Law Firm LLC, Keith T. Vernon and Andrew Knox of Timoney Knox LLP, and Troy M. Frederick and Beth A. Frederick of Frederick Law Group PLLC.
The Apple ID Termination Class Action Lawsuit is Matthew Price v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:21-cv-02846, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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26 thoughts onApple User Lost Almost $25K in Purchases After His Account Was Unlawfully Deleted, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges
Please add me.
As of September 2023, Apple is not getting better. You are allowed to spend thousands of dollars on their products but ALL refund requests are denied even when vendors acknowledge a problem and direct you to the Apple Refund request process. Apple terms and conditions has provision to address technical problems preventing a customer to receive goods. They either refund or provide the goods intended to be received.
Of course that does not happen.
Their customer service is useless. Here are their responses to me:
1- i dont have access to why your request was denied and i cannot make decisions regarding your refund
2- i cannot forward your call to someone who can answer or make decisions on your request: apple policies
3- i cannot update your request with additional information
4- you need to wait for the final decision. But the final decision cannot be changed.
5- you can ask your bank to block the payments but we will block your account, your payment media used will be banned forever and all the purchases you ever made through your account will be lost.
This is a hostage situation. It is impossible to talk to someone, impossible to appeal a decision, impossible to even file a complaint against the processes used.
TEXTO.
Good afternoon,
I would like to be added to this Class Action Lawsuit/Settlement. Apple unlawfully put a block on my Apple ID without liquidating the funds and I have no access to withdraw, transfer, or even request a check. I even have screenshots of the Apple ID Balance as well as my entire purchase history with Apple(I did the research to obtain it, Apple would not assist in anyway)? Makes sense? Nope!
In addition the Apple ID Balance was made up of gift cards an associate uploaded without my permission or asking me prior to completing. I was in the store just inquiring on a new laptop and made it known to the sales associate my objective.
Sincerely,
Marc G
I lost everything, my home of 30-years and all the contents in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County Colorado on December 30th, 2021. That means 4 apple devices (old iPhone, iPad mini, reasonable new MBAir and an old MBPro) burned and are no longer available to me. A friend of the family gifted me a refurbished iPad and as I was trying to set it up, I clicked the wrong choice three times and was locked out of my account. I have been attempting account recovery for more than a year. It’s madness!! I need help!
Add me please
Help me
Apple took money out of a acct who k the card was locked. The card company immediately cancelled me card I’ve 2 month period both credit cards in my acct payment have been charged over $500 for same game in 1 day over a $100 worth of charges . I need help they are denying my request for refund .
I’ve had my account frozen also and have lost over $1000 in in-game purchases. I am also losing money on apps where you shop and money is added because I am unable to update any app
Ive got evidence and Id like to suit apple – how do i get in contact with others? They allowed over $4000 of fraudulent in app charges to occur on my childs phone. My son has had his iphone for years and all of a sudden there were 10’s of charges (up to 40) adding to up to $800/ day over just a couple weeks, every day. It was obviusly merely impossible to be him which he confirmed because he didnt wven use phone every day! I froze card, switched and it happened right away again. But apple didnt want to investigate and told me to go to bank. When bank refunded charges and investigated, apple shut down my id. they argue, put me off, turn it on and then off again, and it has not let me get into apps, use our family accoounts and products, essentially render devices and my investments in devices and apps useless. They are blackmailing me in order to pay fraud charges of thousands of dollars. this is unethical business if not completely illegal and fraudulent criminal behavior of their own. Please contact me.
Also they do not make it easy for banks to investigate – they only see charges as apple.com and cant break out childs account where fraud occurred or which apps (only a few which were hitting 10’s of times per day) but could t fight that without mixing with legitimate purchases i made. This is unethical way for apple to control data to force consumers to pay illegal charges. There ‘help’ service does not work efficiently or at all at some point and they are just balckmailing me to pay.
Also they do not make it easy for banks to investigate – they only see charges as apple.com and cant break out childs account where fraud occurred or which apps (only a few which were hitting 10’s of times per day) but could t fight that without mixing with legitimate purchases i made. This is unethical way for apple to control data to force consumers to pay illegal charges. There ‘help’ service does not work efficiently or at all at some point.
Also they do not make it easy for banks to investigate – they only see charges as apple.com and cant break out childs account where occurred or which apps (only a few which were hitting 10’s of times per day) but could t fight that without mixing with legitimate purchases i made. This is unethical way for apple to control data to force consumers to pay illegal charges. There ‘help’ service does not work efficiently or at all at some point.
My autistic 5 year old son supposedly spent 3 thousand dollars on his iPad and when I disputed the charges because I did not purchase 3 thousand dollars in a matter of minutes, they turned off my entire App Store.
This just happened to me today. I can’t get any answers on why they closed my account .
i could not retrive in game progress or restore purchases from my apple account ive lost thousands in items from apple i paid for from music to games
I cant even retrieve my account anymore and it’s frustrating… I had to start new account every time.
New music and new apps. Wtf. Former me.com apple.com email address will be sent once I get contacted mahalo.
Por favor, inclúyanme. Seguido tengo cargos que nunca había aceptado y también me borraron una cuenta