Amazon faces legal challenge over Prime cancellation policy

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Amazon faces legal challenge over Prime cancellation policy

Jane Wakefield - Technology reporter
Thu, January 14, 2021, 9:29 AM

Amazon is being challenged by consumer watchdogs in Europe and the US over its use of manipulative "dark pattern" design to promote its Prime service.

The Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) found that cancelling a subscription required scrolling through six pages and making several complex choices.

It has filed a legal complaint with Norway's consumer protection authority claiming the design breaches EU law.

Amazon rejected claims the process was unfair or difficult.

In the US, consumer watchdog Public Citizen is leading a coalition of groups that is also filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. And consumer groups in France, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Switzerland are also calling for action.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/amazon-faces-legal-challenge-over-052546834.html

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Source: New York Times

Consumer Groups Target Amazon Prime’s Cancellation Process

A Norwegian group filed a complaint with regulators, saying Amazon had deliberately made it difficult to end memberships to its Prime service. Groups in Europe and the U.S. back the effort.

By Isabella Kwai
Jan. 14, 2021

LONDON — Those who have tried ending a membership in Amazon Prime, the technology giant’s digital subscription service, may be familiar with the multi-click process: warnings that cancellation will mean losing “exclusive benefits,” and prompts to reverse course, or switch to an annual membership instead.

Consumer rights groups in Europe and the United States are now urging regulators to take action against Amazon over that Prime design feature, saying it manipulates users into sticking with paid memberships.

A Norwegian consumer rights group on Thursday filed a legal complaint with that country’s regulators accusing Amazon of engaging in unfair commercial practices with the Prime cancellation design, the latest move in a broader push to make tech companies more accountable to users.

“It should be as easy to end a subscription as it was to subscribe in the first place,” said Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, the director of digital policy for the rights group, the Norwegian Consumer Council. “This practice not only betrays the expectations and trust of consumers but breaches European law.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/world/europe/amazon-prime-cancellation-complaint.html

[exboyfil]

1. Try to cancel a promotional subscription to the Wall Street Journal

You have to call a specific number. You can't do it online even though you can register online.

[Phoenix61]

2. It should be harder to subscribe. I did it on accident

the last time I ordered something on amazon. I cancelled the trial membership and it was a pain. Several screens and lots of are you sure? Are you absolutely sure? Absolutely, positively sure?

[JDC]

3. Try cancelling Sirius Satellite Radio

It's impossible.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. These companies that make it so

Hard to do business need a legal ass kicking.

Also when you need help you need to talk to someone it should be easy to reach them.

This treat your customers like shit has got to stop.

Breaking up monopolies would help with this. Or revoke the corporate charter and turn them into small co ops.

Ceo's of monopolies are fuckers all of them.