Amazon: Customers can be a part of class motion lawsuit in opposition to on-line retailers | EUROtoday

In the authorized dispute over a worth improve for Prime subscriptions from the net retailer Amazon in the summertime of 2022, clients can now be a part of a category motion lawsuit introduced by the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center. In order to participate within the lawsuit, they need to register in a so-called lawsuit register on the Federal Office of Justice, as the buyer recommendation middle introduced.

Amazon elevated the worth for the Prime subscription in Germany in the summertime of 2022. According to the buyer recommendation middle, “millions of consumers” had been affected. From the attitude of client advocates, the rise is illegal.

A lawsuit in opposition to Amazon earlier than the regional courtroom and within the second occasion earlier than the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court was determined in favor of the buyer recommendation middle in each cases: the judges declared the worth adjustment clause for the German Prime membership program to be ineffective. Because Amazon appealed in opposition to this to the Federal Court of Justice, the newest choice is just not legally binding.

Against this background, the buyer recommendation middle filed a category motion lawsuit (ref. I-13 VKl 1/25) with the accountable Hamm Higher Regional Court in December 2025. “If the lawsuit is successful, consumers who register in the lawsuit register could receive a refund for overpaid contributions,” defined the NRW client recommendation middle. “Depending on the subscription model, that would currently be up to around 60 euros. Depending on the duration of the procedure, this sum will increase,” stated VZ board member Wolfgang Schuldzinski.

It is just not but clear when the Hamm Higher Regional Court will take care of the case. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, registration within the register is feasible as much as three weeks after the top of the oral listening to. “The unilateral price increase without the express consent of the customers was inadmissible,” stated Schuldzinski. “Going to court is difficult for individuals, which is why we offer those affected a simple way to assert their rights easily and free of charge through class action lawsuits.”

“Clear information repeatedly provided”

Amazon once more rejected the allegations. “We informed customers about the changes to the Prime membership fee transparently and in compliance with applicable law,” stated an Amazon spokesman when requested. Customers all the time have the fitting to cancel their Prime membership at any time. “We have repeatedly provided clear information about this in our communications.” Because they disagreed with the ruling of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, they filed an attraction with the Federal Court of Justice.

The North Rhine-Westphalia client recommendation middle identified that there’s at present one other class motion lawsuit in opposition to Amazon by a client recommendation middle. The Saxony Consumer Center is suing in opposition to the rise in promoting quotas within the “Prime Video” streaming service. These are two impartial procedures.