Federal court finds eHarmony used deceptive subscription practices in Australia
A federal judge ruled that eHarmony engaged in misleading conduct with its premium subscriptions, breaching Australian consumer law.
The ACCC brought a case against the US-based dating site eHarmony, alleging that it misrepresented its free membership and concealed the terms of premium subscriptions. Justice Christopher Horan found the company guilty of deceptive conduct under Australian consumer law in six areas, including false claims about free communication, unclear pricing between monthly and yearly plans, and undisclosed automatic renewals at higher, non-discounted rates.
Evidence showed users were billed hundreds of dollars, with at least two customers having their debts referred to collection agencies. The court recorded that roughly 1.3 million Australians signed up for basic accounts, with about 259 000 paying for premium services, and around 20 % of those experienced automatic renewals. eHarmony’s spokesperson said the firm has made changes to increase clarity on its app and website and is considering its options. ACCC commissioner Luke Woodward warned that such “subscription traps” undermine consumer choice in the digital economy.
Why it matters
It highlights how hidden subscription fees can exploit consumers and may prompt stricter regulation of online services.
In this story
