Abraham Jewett  |  August 19, 2022

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Gannett Company Indy Star Headquarters.
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock)

Gannett newspaper renewal class action lawsuit overview: 

  • Who: Nichole Anderson filed a class action lawsuit against Gannett Co., Inc. 
  • Why: Anderson claims Gannett unlawfully renews newspaper subscriptions for consumers who have already canceled their subscription. 
  • Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court. 

Gannett deceptively and unlawfully automatically renews the newspaper subscriptions of consumers who have already canceled their subscriptions, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Nichole Anderson claims Gannett acts in a “fraudulent” and “unconscionable” manner by allegedly continuing to charge consumers for their subscriptions even if they are canceled before they are set to renew. 

Anderson argues that Gannett breaches its contract with consumers by allegedly continuing to charge for newspaper subscriptions that have been canceled.

“Defendant routinely fails to honor consumers’ requests to stop their newspaper subscriptions from automatically renewing and instead, continues to charge them subscription fees without their authorization in breach of the express terms of its contract,” the Gannett class action states. 

Gannett class action alleges breach of contract, unjust enrichment

Anderson’s subscription to the Courier News was automatically renewed despite her canceling the subscription and receiving confirmation that it was done, the Gannett class action states.

“As a result of Defendant’s fraudulent conduct, Plaintiff paid nearly $10.00 in unauthorized charges from Defendant,” according to the Gannett newspaper renewal lawsuit. 

Anderson claims Gannett is guilty of unjust enrichment and breach of contract and in violation of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act

She demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for herself and all class members. 

Anderson wants to represent a nationwide class of consumers who continued to be charged for a Gannett-owned newspaper subscription despite already having canceled their subscription to that newspaper. 

Additionally, she wants to represent a subclass of consumers who purchased a subscription to the Courier News and who were continued to be charged after they canceled their subscription. 

In related news, last month, a judge ruled that a $6.7 million class action settlement between The Washington Post and consumers who say their subscriptions were unlawfully automatically renewed could move forward

Have you been charged for a Gannett newspaper renewal subscription you already canceled? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Rachel Edelsberg of Dapeer Law, P.A., and Sophia G. Gold and Jeffrey D. Kaliel of Kaliel Gold PLLC. 

The Gannett class action lawsuit is Anderson v. Gannett Co., Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-05088, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.


Don’t Miss Out!

Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!


Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

84 thoughts onGannett class action alleges newspapers auto-renewed subscriptions after customer cancellations

  1. A. Gomez says:

    I was repeatedly billed on the auto renew feature by the Gainesville Sun.

  2. Nick beattie says:

    I joined Packersnews when it had a free trial. I requested via it be cancelled at the end of the trial. It was not. They do not have a method to cancel online even though their FAQ says you can cancel via the account management. Emailed again a month later afer I was charged for a new month and still nothing. Called and did the phone request and they said i did not have an account. Got charged another month and used the “live chat” feature and supposedly it’s cancelled now.

  3. Nick says:

    I was repeatedly charged by Gannett for a Wicked Local subscription long after I called to cancel.

  4. David W. says:

    I’ve been billed repeatedly by the Bergen Record, a Gannett paper, even though I canceled my subscription long ago. How do I join the class action lawsuit?

  5. SW says:

    I renewed subscription for 2 newspapers, was told (in October 2022) that it will be $1 for 6 months for each one; I authorized that amount be charged to cc. I now see on cc statement that I was charged $14.99 and $11.99 on Nov 2, 2022 and $14.99 and $11.99 on December 2, 2022. These are charges that were not authorized, and I’m disgusted with their customer service. Do we have serious fraud going on here?????

    1. Trina Hampton says:

      My mother had the same experience with the Tennessean. Her monthly subscription is $37. Charges ranging between $45 – $82 were deducted from her checking account for over nine months until I called to cancel in October 2022. They assured me they “fixed the error” and starting in November, $37 would be deducted. November charge was $70.00. I called and canceled again. As I see it, this action also constitutes Elder Abuse. Thankfully I am my mother’s conservator and will protect her assets. But what of the 85% of the print market that consists of the elderly who are 70+ years? Something needs to be done.

  6. Alshonea Knox says:

    My subscription was cancelled last month but they charge me 20 dollars anyway

  7. Rocky says:

    Cancelled in February, started up again in August. For Newspapers.com. $14.99 a month. Please add

  8. Melissa Ruff says:

    I’ve never signed up for any newspaper and yet I see a charge for $9.99 and a telephone number of
    888–871–0686. Please include me in any suit

  9. Gustavo Alzugaray says:

    I too cancelled months ago, and just today realized they have continued to charge my card monthly ever since while reviewing my credit card transaction history.

  10. Marc J Truant says:

    Please include me in the action against Gannett.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.