Class action claims Ritual Zero Proof adds ‘junk fees’ to online orders

Ritual Zero Proof class action overview:

• Who: A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Ritual Zero Proof and Route App Inc.
• Why: The plaintiff claims the companies deceptively add Ritual Zero Proof junk fees to consumers’ online purchases.
• Where: The Ritual Zero Proof class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges that Ritual Zero Proof and Route App add deceptive junk fees to consumers’ online purchases.

Plaintiff Philip Cantore filed the class action lawsuit against Ritual Zero Proof and Route App on April 29 in Illinois federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the lawsuit, when consumers browse products on e-commerce websites, the e-commerce website will advertise the price of its retail items, along with an advertisement for either free or flat rate shipping.

However, the lawsuit claims those pricing representations are false because e-commerce retailers, such as Ritual Zero Proof, working with Route, surreptitiously add junk fees to consumer purchases, including Route’s so-called “Shipping Protection” fee.

Ritual Zero Proof, Route App ‘sneak’ fees into shopping carts, lawsuit claims

The assessment of these fees is deceptive and unfair since the companies sneak these fees into consumers’ shopping carts, the lawsuit claims.

The fees are nothing more than an additional cost for shipping, rendering retailer promises for “free” or flat-rate shipping false, the class action states.

The plaintiff claims the fees themselves “are deceptively named and described” and provide no added value to reasonable consumers and therefore would not knowingly choose to pay them.

Thousands of e-commerce customers like Cantore have been assessed hidden shipping charges for which they did not bargain due to the companies’ deceptive tactics, the lawsuit alleges.

By unfairly obscuring their true shipping costs, the companies deceive consumers and gain an unfair upper hand on competitors that fairly disclose their true shipping charges, the lawsuit explains.

Cantore seeks to represent anyone who paid a “shipping protection” fee or other similar fee for a service provided by Route or for purchases on Ritual Zero Proof.

He is suing for breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, unjust enrichment and violations of Illinois consumer laws and is seeking certification of the Ritual Zero Proof class action lawsuit, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Find out more about hidden shipping fees and what you can do about it. 

What do you think of the allegations in this Ritual Zero Proof class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Jeffrey D. Kaliel, Amanda J. Rosenberg and Sophia G. Gold of KalielGold PLLC.

The Ritual Zero Proof class action lawsuit is Cantore v. Ritual Zero Proof, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-04677, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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