SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — Amazon is facing a class action alleging it has purposely made its Amazon Prime membership cancellation confusing for customers.
Thomas Dorobiala filed a complaint Nov. 9 in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington against Amazon.com, alleging violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act.
According to his class action complaint, Dorobiala became an Amazon Prime member in March of 2020 and started a free trial. He claims that at the end of the free trial, Amazon automatically charged him a subscription fee.
Dorobiala further claims that in February 2022, he attempted to cancel the membership after learning Amazon Prime was raising the subscription fee but the cancellation process required four to six steps that kept changing and he was not able to cancel. He alleges Amazon Prime's subscription cancellation process is confusing and manipulative and that the company uses "dark patterns" to decrease the likelihood of members making it "all the way" to final confirmation of cancellation.
Dorobiala claims Amazon's deceptive practices are intentional and misleading to customers as well as violates Washington's Consumer Protection Act.
Dorobiala and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Steve Berman and Barbara Mahoney of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP in Seattle.
U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington Seattle Division case number 2:22-CV-01600