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.
HelloFresh auto renewal class action overview:
- Who: A HelloFresh consumer is suing the food delivery company.
- Why: The plaintiff says the company illegally auto-renews customers subscriptions without proper notice.
- Where: The HelloFresh class action was filed in a California federal court.
HelloFresh runs an illegal “automatic renewal” scheme with its food delivery subscriptions, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Amanda McClure filed the class action complaint against Grocery Delivery E-Services Usa Inc. (HelloFresh) Sept. 7 in a California federal court, alleging violations of the California Automatic Renewal Law and other consumer laws.
When consumers sign up for the HelloFresh Subscriptions through the HelloFresh Website, the company actually enrolls consumers in a program that automatically renews customers’ subscriptions from week-to-week and results in weekly charges, the HelloFresh class action alleges.
“In doing so, Defendant fails to provide the requisite disclosures and authorizations required to be made to and obtained from California consumers under California’s Automatic Renewal Law (ARL),” the lawsuit states.
HelloFresh should have obtained affirmative consent, lawsuit alleges
McClure’s HelloFresh subscription was automatically renewed without her knowledge in March, and she was charged $69.93, she says.
Under the ARL, online retailers who offer automatically renewing subscriptions to California consumers must obtain affirmative consent prior to the consumer’s purchase and provide the complete auto-renewal terms in a “clear and conspicuous” manner.
McClure alleges that HelloFresh did not do this, and took advantage of the fact it has customers billing information on file.
“Defendant is able to unilaterally charge its customers’ renewal fees without their consent, as Defendant is in possession of its customers’ billing information,” the lawsuit states.
“Thus, Defendant has made the deliberate decision to charge Plaintiff and other similarly situated customers on a weekly basis, absent their consent under the ARL, relying on consumer confusion and inertia to retain customers, combat consumer churn, and bolster its revenues.”
McClure is suing on behalf of all California purchasers of HelloFresh subscriptions who incurred unauthorized charges for the renewal of their HelloFresh subscriptions.
She’s seeking damages, restitution, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, HelloFresh failed to design its website so that it would be fully accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, another class action lawsuit filed this year alleges.
Was your HelloFresh subscription renewed without your express consent? Let us know your experience in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by L. Timothy Fisher. Joseph I. Marchese and Alec M. Leslie of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. and Adrian Gucovschi of Gucovschi Rozenshteyn, PLLC.
The HelloFresh class action lawsuit is Amanda McClure v. HelloFresh, Case No. 5:22-cv-05077 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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:
- Barkbox sued for auto-renewing subscription boxes for dogs
- Panera class action claims Unlimited Sip Club not actually unlimited, auto-renews subscriptions
- Whole Foods, Amazon face class action lawsuit claims over products, services
- Gannett class action alleges newspapers auto-renewed subscriptions after customer cancellations
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
25 thoughts onHelloFresh class action claims company engages in illegal auto renewal scheme
I decided to try Hello Fresh August 2023 and after receiving three meals, decided it wasn’t a good fit for our family. I logged in and cancelled my subscription and received a confirmation email August 12th indicating my subscription was cancelled. Because I understand the nature of these subscription companies, close to the time I thought I might get charged again, I logged into my Hello Fresh account, thought I made sure it was cancelled, when unknowingly, by simply logging in, my account was activated. I did not pick any meals nor receive confirmation that I picked anything out or that anything was automatically being picked out. August 23rd, I received a FedEx notification that a delivery was coming, from Hello Fresh. I contacted the company first via “chat” through their website and the answers were auto generated and did not help, so I called. I spoke with a representative that confirmed my subscription was cancelled, however was activated when I logged in. She refused to acknowledge this questionable business practice and refused to offer me a refund or to retrieve the unwanted shipment. I have all of the documentation to support that I did my due dilegence however was deceived when I again, unknowingly logged in and activated my account. This is a deceptive company and I will in no way, ever do business with them. I am willing to provide more details if needed.
Add me as well. I have not had an active account with Hello Fresh since 2019 and suddenly for the past 2 months I have been charged WEEKLY by Hello Fresh, Every plate, AND Green Chef. They have taken thousands of dollars out of my account and when I tried to get help with customer service, they confirmed I had no active accounts and were unable to look into the charges. I’ve now had to cancel all of my debit cards and dispute the 25+ unauthorized transactions through my bank. I am a college student with very little money in my savings and this has been detrimental to my financial status. Hello Fresh takes no responsibility and is unable to help me at all.
On April 30, 2023 I opened an email from Hello Fresh not realizing that by opening it restores my automatic account. I had only ordered from them one time months ago and cancelled the account after since they dont have the food I’d enjoy. Since it was a Sunday night when I discovered the charge through PayPal I couldnt talk to anyone til Monday morn. I called Hello Fresh only for the rep to say Sorry you reactivated your account and there is nothing we can do. I told her that I did not pick ANY meals and she said well we did that for you. I asked for them to stop the shipment and refund my money which she refused. I asked to speak to a supervisor and she put me on hold. Then came back and repeated the same thing that there is nothing they can do. They have gotten to the point that by opening an email it justifies them charging your bank account and food being wasted. I wasnt even offered a chance to pick meals since they werent going to cancel anything. Its not like we can send the food back after they decide to accept a return so they have you over a barrel. These companies are taking advantage of people and need to be stopped. Paypal is filing a dispute and said they will check into the company to see if they are doing anything wrong by charging people when not authorized since its an automatic payment agreement they have with Hello Fresh.
On April 29, 2023 I checked out HelloFresh’s website to see their meal options if it’s right for me and my family. The way the company designed their website, customers have to provide their payment detail before they were able to see the menu which I did. Upon checking the menu of the week, I decided not to go through with it because I didn’t like any of the meal options. I didn’t make any purchase. I did not choose any of the meal options either. I understand that this company is a subscription business so I cancelled my subscription few minutes after I signed up. I received a confirmation that my subscription had been cancelled successfully. On March 02, 2023, I noticed that my credit card had a pending charge of $63.84 from HelloFresh. I contacted Customer Service regarding the charge. A male agent told me that the box with meal kit is scheduled to be delivered on March 6, 2023. I clearly told him that I did not place that order because I didn’t like what they have. He then said that He will cancel the order and process a refund. I hang up with good faith. However, the charge of $63.84 came through even if the the meal kit had been cancelled and had not been delivered to my address. So, I contacted Customer Service again on March 08, 2023. Miguel from Customer Service assured me that a refund will be processed. On March 11, 2023, I contacted Customer Service for the third time to follow up on the refund. Michelle from Customer Service informed me that there was no record that the refund had been processed on March 2, 2023 when I first contacted them. She then told me that it had been processed on March 08, 2023. She then told me to wait between 5-10 business days for the refund to be posted in my bank account. After few more conversations, she changed her narrative that my financial institution filed a dispute against HelloFresh that is why the refund took longer than usual and then there’s nothing they can do about it but for me to check with my financial institution. I then called my credit card company to double check if there was a dispute being processed against HelloFresh. Jennifer, AMEX’s customer service agent verified from Dispute and Fraud Department if there was any charges that AMEX filed against HelloFresh. There was none. In my opinion, HelloFresh is lying to my face to deny me from being refunded. Upon running across Consumer Affairs website on HelloFresh’s reviews, I realized that they have been doing this scam to their customers. I filed a complaint on BBB website and HelloFresh had been flagged for having over 1, 500 customer complaints. This company needs to be investigated thoroughly.
They reactivated an old account the day after my mother created an account for her first delivery. Duplicate box came the next day and they won’t refund. Time to dispute. Companies are scam happy nowadays.
YES! DITTO!! long story I ordered an introductory meal kit. It arrived the same day I got an email the next one was on its way (too late to change). I contacted hellofresh to cancel as I had not even had time to try the first box. But, even though the order had not been shipped, it had been “billed” (it didn’t ship until FOUR days later), they said they could not stop the shipment or change the date. The UPS driver dropped the box on our doorstep and could not catch him to refuse it. So I stuck the unopened box in the fridge and went to UPS for a package pick up, but they would charge “ME” $27.50! So I contacted hellofresh to request a return shipping label – two days later, they email me and say someone will be in touch.(food probably no good now), and now I am battling thru the bank to get our money back.
Twice I skipped a week and still got the delivery and charged. They still deliver what they promise, but the cost and random charges are not worth the headache for half rotten produce and sometimes questionable meats.
They did the same to me. At no point was I aware of any autorenewal option or otherwise, all I did was redeem a ‘free box’ that a friend sent me through email. I called them and they told me absolutely no refunds. That’s literally minutes after they took the money out of my account.
This happened to me as well with hello fresh and it’s partner company blue apron. I’m out hundreds of dollars because I ordered for my home and the home of my father. Please add me
This happened to me. I got a notification that I had -20 dollars in my bank account and the hellofresh people just apologized and offered a 10 dollar credit. I wanted a refund. My real money. Please add me
They charged my account as well. Add me