Netflix must refund customers for years of price hikes, Italian court rules
15 hours ago
- #Legal Ruling
- #Streaming Services
- #Consumer Rights
- A Rome court ruled Netflix's price hikes in Italy in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2024 were unlawful, violating consumer protection laws.
- The court ordered Netflix to refund affected customers up to 500 euros, based on their subscription plan, for lacking valid justifications in contracts.
- Italian consumer group Movimento Consumatori sued, citing breaches of the Consumer Code requiring advance explanation of price changes.
- Netflix must notify current and former customers within 90 days via email, mail, website, and newspapers, or face daily fines of 700 euros.
- Refunds vary: premium plan increases total 8 euros/month, standard plan 4 euros/month, and basic plan saw a 2-euro hike in October 2024.