Consumers file class actions over subscription auto-renewal policies

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Subscription auto-renewal class action lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits against The Athletic, HungryRoots and FloSports. 
• Why: The class action lawsuits claim the companies broke the law by enrolling subscribers in automatic-renewal programs. 
• Where: The class action lawsuits were filed in California and New York federal courts. 

Consumers filed a trio of class action lawsuits recently against companies accused of unlawfully automatically renewing customer subscriptions. 

The consumers behind the complaints argue the companies — The Athletic Media Company, HungryRoot and FloSports — break the law with the way they automatically renew customer subscriptions. 

A subscription auto-renewal is a billing model companies use to automatically re-enroll customers once the initial agreed-upon time is complete. 

The Athletic unlawfully enrolls consumers in subscription auto-renewal program, class action says

A group of five consumers filed a class action lawsuit against The Athletic Media Co. last month over claims the company violated California’s Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) with its auto-renewal program. 

The consumers argue The Athletic fails to provide the “requisite disclosures and authorizations” prior to automatically renewing customers who purchased subscriptions both online and on its mobile application.

“Defendant fails to adequately disclose the terms of its auto-renewal programs either before or after checkout, and it never requires the individual consumer to read or affirmatively agree to any terms of service,” The Athletic class action states. 

Consumers further accuse The Athletic of making it “exceedingly difficult” and “unnecessarily confusing”  for customers to cancel their subscriptions after signing up. 

HungryRoots accused of violating law with subscription auto-renewal program

Also last month, a consumer filed a class action lawsuit against food subscription service HungryRoots, arguing the company fails to provide the proper disclosures before allegedly auto-renewing customer subscriptions. 

The consumer behind the complaint, a former HungryRoots subscriber, claims the company enrolls unknowing customers who sign up for the service on its website or mobile app into its subscription auto-renewal program. 

The consumer alleges HungryRoots violates California’s ARL by allegedly failing “to provide the requisite disclosures and authorizations” it is required by law to give prior to enrolling a customer in an auto-renewal program.

The company also allegedly makes it difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions once they have signed up by failing to identify an easy way for them to do so, the class action claims.

“Defendant also makes it exceedingly difficult and unnecessarily confusing for consumers to cancel their HungryRoot Subscriptions,” the HungryRoot class action states. 

FloSports misled customers with initial billing after subscription sign up, class action says

Meanwhile, a consumer hit FloSports with a class action lawsuit last November, arguing the subscription sports broadcaster and streaming service misleads customers about charges when they first sign up. 

The consumer behind the complaint argues FloSports deceives customers by charging them the full annual fee for the service instead of the monthly fee the consumer argues they expected. 

When the plaintiff tried to contest the alleged initial annual charge, FloSports ignored them, the lawsuit claims.

“Defendant failed to acknowledge that Mr. Hill had contacted FloSports within 30 days of purchase and made the request to change subscription to monthly and refund the annual charge,” the FloSports class action states. 

Have you been enrolled in a subscription auto-renewal program without your knowledge or consent? Let us know in the comments! 

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