Brian White  |  January 25, 2021

Category: Fees

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Closeup of a Ring video doorbellIn order to access all of the Ring video doorbell features, users are forced to pay a monthly service fee, a new class action lawsuit claims.

The class action lawsuit claims the maker of the online security system unfairly hides a monthly service fee from buyers, even though the system is rendered useless if customers do not pay the fee.

Lead plaintiffs Brandon Jack and Jean Alda bought two different Ring doorbell security camera systems, costing about $450, in 2017. Nowhere on the box were buyers alerted a monthly subscription would be required, they said. 

The initial complaint alleges this contrasts with the first line of Ring video doorbell security cameras sold in stores. “Ring Video Doorbell 1,” as it is named in the initial complaint, was introduced to the public in 2013 and is still sold in physical stores for about $100. 

According to the Ring Doorbell class action lawsuit, that product’s box clearly notifies shoppers the Ring video doorbell requires a $3 a month fee to access its online streaming features. 

“The fact that such notice and disclosure was expressly placed by Defendant on the outside of the sealed box of the Ring Video Doorbell 1 — a product which is still being sold today — shows that Defendant considered this information to be material to consumers …,” the class action lawsuit says. 

Jack and Alda allege this fee information should be clear on all of the Ring video doorbell security systems because it’s “nothing more than an expensive electronic alternative to looking out one’s window” without the ability to record or pull up video. 

These features are essential to the Ring video doorbell’s value, Jack and Alda argue, and are a major reason people buy them. 

Beyond pricing issues, Ring customers in another class action lawsuit against the company claim it violates privacy and has been known to provide data to law enforcement agencies. 

Do you own a Ring video doorbell security camera system? What do you think of the monthly price charged to see video recordings? Let us know what you think of the pricing and the class action lawsuit in the comments below. 

Counsel representing the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit are Daniel M. Hattis and Paul Karl Lukacs of Hattis & Lukacs, and Stephen DeNittis and Shane T. Prince of Denittis Osefchen Prince PC.

The Ring Doorbell Security Cam Class Action Lawsuit is Brandon Jack, et al. v. Ring LLC, Case No. 3:21-cv-00544, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. 

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783 thoughts onRing Video Doorbell Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Hidden Subscription Fees

  1. Latasha M Eugenio says:

    I am angry. They have a new subscription fee just to use it privately. I have 4 cameras and the whole kit, spent all of that money and time installing it. Add me to this.

  2. HOLLY D ROGERS says:

    I had no idea I would have to pay, but after spending that kuch money on everything to get it, I was basically forced to do so. It seriously only loads maybe 5% of the time. It’s so pointless. I’ve had it for about 2 years now and the few times I actually needed the footage, it was not available. When it is available, it takes half the live video, to load it to where you can actually see anything, and by then it’s over or the part you needed to see has passed before the video fully loaded. I feel like I could have recovered a few things that was stolen from me, if I would have had any other camera system, but nope.

  3. Lynn Waters says:

    Please add me, just paid for another year!

  4. Joey jorgensen says:

    Still have the box it came with , nowhere on the outside does it tell you about fees for it to work at its capacity

  5. Seid Diglisic says:

    Ring is garbage hate the product and the company shouldn’t of ever bought any of the product

  6. Courtney St Martin says:

    When we don’t pay for subscription, we can only get the “live” view to pull up maybe 10% of the time. The second we subscribe for $3/month, every single time we pull up live view, it works. We feel ripped off!!!

    1. RunningW says:

      They don’t tell you that you can’t use it without paying in there advertising on tv that I have ever heard. I had no clue when I brought it that I had to pay to use it and I couldn’t return it because I ordered it online and nothing was wrong with it and that is the only reason you can return any electronics. So Im stuck with it and paying if I want to be able to use anything other than the live view. Wonder how many people would buy it if they knew you have to pay to use it after you have bought it? Not happy that they hide that and aren’t upfront about the fees.

  7. jean-marc l'eplattenier says:

    Bought and installed over a year ago. Found out that system is of no use if you do not pay a subscription fee. That is news to me. Add my name to list of disgruntled consumers

  8. Richard Tersero says:

    Please add me to the lawsuit. Richard Tersero. Have had ring for over 7 years, and devices run out of battery fast and don’t like the fact on how they can spy on my family anytime.

  9. Kenny Miller says:

    I had my ring security cameras for about 6 years and I still have the boxes that they came in and nowhere on the box it’s states that you have to have a subscription for them
    I don’t like the idea that they can spy on you at your own cost
    Add my name to the law suit
    Thanks Kenny Miller

  10. Jerry Nicolato says:

    I’d like to be added to this lawsuit. Had no idea until a few weeks ago of any subscription. Have been using for several years until now. Device is now rendered useless as I am not getting the subscription.

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