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A nearly $2.3 million settlement will resolve claims that dating website eHarmony failed to satisfy California consumer law requirements in the way it handles automatic subscription renewals.
The settlement is the product of an enforcement action brought by the district attorneys of Napa, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Shasta Counties and the city attorney of Santa Monica.
Among other allegations, the municipalities claim eHarmony failed to properly represent the terms of its automatic renewal subscription service as required by federal and California consumer protection laws.
Members were not clearly notified about the automatic renewal, the amount of the recurring payments, or what they could do to cancel the service, the municipalities allege.
The settlement requires eHarmony to distribute $1 million in restitution to customers whose subscriptions were automatically renewed but who were denied refunds. This fund will be distributed by a claims administrator, similar to the way civil class action settlements are distributed. Qualifying claimants will receive either mailed checks or credits applied to their eHarmony subscriptions.
Another $1.28 million in civil penalties and investigative costs will be paid to the municipalities.
eHarmony will also be required to change the way it presents the auto-renewal terms of its memberships. The auto-renewal terms must be presented clearly and conspicuously, and they must be separate from other terms.
Customers will have to give affirmative consent to those terms by clicking a checkbox, entering a signature, or some similar mechanism in visual proximity to the presentation of the automatic renewal offer terms.
“The separate check-box is the key,” said Santa Monica Chief Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky in a press release. “Otherwise, it’s too confusing. Companies have too many ways to hide the auto-renewal terms. … eHarmony now will have one of the best online disclosure and consent pages in the business.”
Customers will then be entitled to receive a copy of the automatic renewal offer’s terms, notice of their right to cancel the subscription, and information on how to cancel.
eHarmony has also agreed not to take steps to collect past-due membership fees from customers that were incurred prior to the effective date of the judgment. California customers who have negative marks on their credit report due to eHarmony’s referring them to a third-party collector can have eHarmony contact the credit bureau to cancel the negative mark.
Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.
The municipalities are represented by Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeffrey F. Rosen, Santa Monica City Attorney Lane Dilg, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley, and Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett, with the assistance of other attorneys in their respective offices.
The eHarmony Subscription Auto-Renewal Lawsuit is People of the State of California v. eHarmony Inc., Case No. 17-cv-03314, in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Santa Cruz.
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66 thoughts oneHarmony Agrees to $2.3M Settlement over Auto-Renewal Terms
there is definitely something amiss with Eharmony I was just charged the full 12-month fee near $500 after using the service for a few weeks last year I canceled and disabled auto-renewal. I have not used it since almost a year later their system re-enable auto-charge on the anniversary of my initial use. I contacted them before the charge even cleared the bank and they refused a refund. After a report to the BBB I have received a 50% refund for something I will and have not used. no services have been rendered. they are still refusing 100% refund. If anyone starts another suit against these clowns it looks like there are plenty of people who have been affected
It’s August 2022 and I’ve been fighting with them since April I had turned auto renew off in 2021. I didn’t get a notice then got charged once in April 2022 but noticed fairly quickly so called to report the mistake. Instead of listening they keep accusing me of not turning the button off but I still believe I did and I did not intend nor try to use the service again. I feel like starting a suit not because of one payment but because of the poor treatment of consumers overall just not cool to me!
Even more sad, I had recommended them until this ridiculousness!! No way now. What insiders are purposely bringing eHarmony down?
The same just happened to me
I am also in this, thankfully my credit company blocked the auto renewal so i haven’t actually paid for the unwanted renewal, but I’m now being told i have to pay for what was cancelled and then blocked.
Has anyone found someone to help them with these predators? I was just charged $430!!!! I was unable to cancel my subscription because I was locked out of my profile, so I cancelled my payment option. Figuring they could charge me for services I had not received. Now, they threaten with a collection agency named FRGI from Sycamore, ILL. Curious on how someone can charge you for services you have not received. I would gladly join a Class Action Lawsuit. You would think that eHarmony would learn from their past. I bet they locked me out of my profile just before renewal just like they took away the option to cancel renewals in the $2.3M lawsuit. Just a different way of going about the same thing. I am determined to fight this. Has anyone else had any pathways to resolve this?? I am sending out a request for proof of debt showing I used their services after my profile expired. Yes, this is total fraud.
Watch out now the Collection Agency RFGI that represents EHarmony is now resorting to harassment phones calls from 877-867-9263. All we are doing is waiting for another Class Action Law Suit to begin. Not many lawyers want to spend the time helping people with less than $1k problems these days. Someday there will be enough of us to get the ball rolling on EHarmony and RFGI..
Yes what do we do??? I’m in the same boat. I got svammed
Has anyone found someone to help them with these predators? I was just charged $550!!!! With no notice. I am determined to fight this. Has anyone else had any pathways to resolve this??
Secondary..
I did request a compassion refund, as COVID and the Caldor fire has severely impacted me. During subscription renewal time, I was ill with COVID and had also just began a new job. In the stress and fog of illness and loss of income, I missed any opportunity to cancel the subscription. I also never received any notice that there would be a subscription renewal (aside from one that may have been on the site….which I was not accessing during my illness or during the aftermath of the CALDOR evacuations and my first infection with COVID in late October) Eharmony gave no care as to these circumstances and now, on top of all the income loss and expenditures…I have 800+ to pay off on a credit card. Thanks for your compassion…eharmony. NOT!!
time for a new lawsuit as this company is still being predatory
When a suit is brought.. I will join.
Me too! They suck
Definitely Time for new Lawsuit, They still auto renew cancelled memberships.
sign me up for Class Action.
I have a new incident that has potential to be a new class’s action lawsuit with eHarmony, how can I proceed?
eharmony just told me that I have to pay them $526 to close my account because of the auto-renew process….this is BS UGH
I am a victim of eharmony as well. Their policy says to cancel at any time for any reason and they keep charging my credit card. I stopped by blocking my credit card, but they sent me an email that I have to pay until December 2021. I want to find a lawyer but I don’t know who can take this case. I need help to stop them.
e-harmony is still scamming people. I hope someone stops them.
Yes what do we do??? I’m in the same boat. I got svammed
I am having the same problem with eharmony. Definitely need to open up another suit.
They’re doing the same thing now with their Australian customers
I am having the same issue with e-harmony at the moment.