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Australia Court Finds Dating App Deceptive
25 Aug
Summary
- eHarmony misled consumers about subscription terms.
- Court found issues with free access and auto-renewals.
- Company failed to clearly disclose minimum total costs.
In a significant ruling, Australia's Federal Court found that online dating platform eHarmony engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct concerning its subscription services. This decision stemmed from proceedings initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in September 2023.
The court's findings highlighted breaches of Australian Consumer Law. These included misleading statements related to free access, automatic renewals, membership length, cancellation rights, and pricing disclosures, according to the ACCC.
Specifically, eHarmony did not clearly present automatic renewal terms, burying them in small print and terms and conditions. Furthermore, the company advertised monthly prices without prominently displaying the minimum total cost a consumer would pay over the entire subscription period.
The ACCC expressed concern about subscription traps in digital services, emphasizing the need for transparency. The court will later determine penalties and consumer redress, while eHarmony is reviewing the judgment.
