Route App class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiffs Anthony Mertson and Michael Schirano filed a class action lawsuit against Route App Inc.
- Why: They claim Route App adds illegal “junk fees” to consumers’ shopping carts.
- Where: The Route App class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
- How to get help: Paid for Route App shipping or package protection? You qualify for the Route App package protection legal actions.
A new class action lawsuit alleges Route App adds “junk fees” to consumers’ shopping carts while they are shopping on e-commerce websites.
Plaintiffs Anthony Mertson and Michael Schirano filed the class action complaint against Route App on June 3 in New York federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
Their class action lawsuit claims Route App adds “junk fees” to consumers’ shopping carts via a widget installed on e-commerce websites, which automatically includes a “shipping protection” or “package protection” fee.
The lawsuit claims this fee is added without the consumer’s explicit consent, making it a deceptive practice.
The class action lawsuit alleges that Route App encourages e-commerce retailers to use its widget to add these fees automatically, thereby generating additional revenue for both Route App and the retailers. The fees are often hidden, appearing as pre-selected options that consumers may not notice during the checkout process, the class action claims.
Route App incentivizes retailers to keep the fee as a default option, with 98% of merchants reportedly leaving the pre-checked box as is, the class action lawsuit says.
Route App junk fees violate federal guidance, class action claims
The Route App class action lawsuit claims these and similar practices are not only deceptive but also violate federal guidance on consumer protection and “junk fees.”
The Federal Trade Commission has criticized similar tactics, noting that pre-checked boxes and hidden fees do not constitute affirmative consent from consumers, the lawsuit says.
The complaint further alleges that the fees are inaccurately named, leading consumers to believe they are mandatory. In reality, the “shipping protection” fee is optional and does not actually provide the promised protection, the Route App class action lawsuit claims.
Consumers who have noticed the fee often assume it is mandatory or decide to go through with the purchase to avoid the hassle of starting over, the lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiffs seek to represent all consumers who paid a shipping protection fee or similar fee for a service provided by Route App within the applicable statute of limitations.
Mertson and Schirano are suing for violations of New York’s consumer protection laws and unjust enrichment. They are seeking certification of the Route App class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, a similar class action lawsuit filed in California alleges TA3 Inc. and Route App Inc. deceptively add junk fees to customers’ orders without their consent.
What do you think of the allegations made in this Route App class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jeffrey D. Kaliel, Sophia G. Gold and Amanda J. Rosenberg of KalielGold PLLC.
The Route App class action lawsuit is Mertson, et al. v. Route App Inc., Case No. 3:26-cv-01172, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
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