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Barkbox auto renew overview:
- Who: A Barkbox consumer is suing the company.
- Why: The plaintiff says the company auto-renews subscriptions for its boxes without adequately informing customers.
- Where: The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
Barkbox tricks customers into auto renewing subscription boxes for dogs, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Amber Farmer filed the class action lawsuit Sept. 1 in a California federal court, alleging violations of the Automatic Renewal Law (ARL)
The ARL requires companies who sign consumers up for automatically renewing purchases to provide “clear and conspicuous” disclosures about the auto renewal plan and obtain “affirmative consent” to enroll consumers.
This protects consumers from being tricked into signing up for recurring shipments and charges.
However, BarkBox does not provide clear and conspicuous disclosures or obtain affirmative consent before enrolling consumers for recurring subscription plans for its monthly subscription boxes of dog toys, treats, and chews, the lawsuit alleges.
“Consumers like Plaintiff are being tricked into signing up for recurring plans, wrongly thinking that they are only signing up for the stated term (for example, for 6 months),” Farmer says.
Barkbox automatic renewal is hidden, lawsuit alleges
The only mention of automatic renewal is disclosed in “tiny font” on the page, the lawsuit alleges. It is allegedly in pale gray text that blends into the white background.
Meanwhile, more information about automatic renewal is allegedly “buried” in the terms.
“This is the opposite of the clear and conspicuous disclosure required by the ARL,” the lawsuit states.
On the Better Business Bureau website, consumers frequently complain about being surprised by the automatic renewal, the lawsuit states.
“BarkBox reasonably should know that its automatic renewal process misleads reasonable consumers.”
In Farmer’s case, she says she signed up for a BarkBox subscription for six months. After this period, it allegedly auto renewed without her knowledge.
“If Ms. Farmer had known that BarkBox was automatically enrolling her for recurring subscriptions, she would not have purchased her initial 6-month subscription program,” the lawsuit states.
She’s suing on behalf of anyone who bought a BarkBox subscription in California, and seeking certification of the class action, an injunction, restitution, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Have you ever had a Barkbox subscription? Let us know your experience in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Jonas B. Jacobson at Dovel & Luner, LLP.
The Barkbox class action lawsuit is Amber Farmer v. Barkbox, Inc., Case No. 2:22-cv-06242 in the U.S. District Court Central District of California.
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15 thoughts onBarkbox sued for auto-renewing subscription boxes for dogs
This happened to me back in November. I signed up for a 6 month and was continually charged after that. When I reached out, they said I was automatically renewed for another 6 month subscription and would not cancel. I went through the signup process again and did not see any option to opt out or any mention within the sign up process. It is buried in the terms and only mentioned one time there. It is pretty deceptive for someone to sign up for a 6 month only subscription and then be locked in for 12 months.
I ordered a box that I believed was a standalone box for my friend and then ordered a 6-month subscription for my dog. When they auto-renewed the standalone box for my friend and wouldn’t refund my money, I cancelled both “subscriptions” because I was told that the 6-month one would renew as well. I was told I would still receive the ones I paid for in the 6-month but that at the end I wouldn’t be charged again. Well here we are at the 6-month date and they auto-renewed it. No notification before this “renewal” or I would’ve let them know that I already cancelled the subscription. I immediately contacted customer service and keep being told I committed to another 6-months subscription and that they can’t change the auto-renew for me, I need to go in and change it or I will be charged again in 6 months. There’s a lot wrong with this, including them not being able to change it when I’ve given them written instructions to turn it off.
I am in the same situation now. Asked for a refund as the transaction was pending, immediately after it was done. Now having a hard time getting a refund on 1 box due to ‘already being packed.’ No e-mails being sent before hand reminding of auto renewal seems shady and they know it! A scam to keep customers.
I’m going through the same thing. I initially signed up for a special that covered me for a year when it was renewal time I got no email they just pulled the money from my account so I dealt with that thinking it was another year then six months later which was yesterday they pulled the money again, like I tried to call them and there was no way to contact them through both numbers they gave on the Internet. I finally did get through on email and I canceled my subscription online and ask them for a refund. Their terms of use states if you cancel on the first day of the month , they will refund you but they are telling me they will not refund me.