German Court Rules Amazon Prime Price Hike Clause Invalid

The Düsseldorf court found Amazon's 2022 Prime fee increase lacked explicit customer consent, prompting potential refunds and further legal action.

The Düsseldorf Regional Court deemed Amazon's Prime price adjustment clause from 2022 invalid due to the lack of explicit customer consent.
Amazon raised Prime subscription fees in September 2022, citing inflation and cost changes, with increases of up to 30% for annual plans.
The ruling supports the Consumer Protection Agency NRW's claim that such price changes require clear customer approval.
The Consumer Protection Agency plans a class-action lawsuit to secure refunds for affected customers, potentially involving hundreds of millions in total reimbursements.
Amazon is reviewing the decision and may appeal, maintaining that it acted lawfully and transparently regarding the fee changes.