The price increase for Amazon Prime in 2022 continues to occupy the courts and consumer advocates. After Amazon raised the subscription prices, in some cases significantly, the NRW consumer advice center deemed this step to be unlawful. A court has since confirmed this assessment. Now comes the next step: the Federal Office of Justice has opened the official register of lawsuits so that affected Prime customers can join a class action. For many subscribers, this opens up the realistic prospect of a refund for the first time.
- Amazon Prime price increase in September 2022 challenged in court
- Düsseldorf Regional Court declared relevant GTC clauses invalid
- Class action officially launched, register of claims already open
- Reimbursement of the surcharges paid possible in principle
Amazon Prime price increase 2022: Why the adjustment is considered unlawful
Amazon had raised the prices for Prime subscriptions with effect from September 15, 2022. The monthly subscription rose from 7.99 euros to 8.99 euros, while the annual price was increased from 69 euros to 89.90 euros. Students were also affected: Here, the monthly price climbed from 3.99 euros to 4.49 euros, while the annual price rose from 34.00 euros to 44.90 euros. Amazon justified the adjustments with increased costs due to inflation and general economic changes.
In the opinion of the NRW consumer advice center, however, there was no legally valid basis for these price increases. Amazon had unilaterally changed the existing contracts without obtaining the express consent of the subscribers. The underlying price adjustment clause in the General Terms and Conditions was particularly problematic. This was formulated in a non-transparent manner and put customers at an unreasonable disadvantage. The Düsseldorf Regional Court followed this argument and declared the relevant clauses invalid. This was the first court ruling to establish that the Prime price increase from 2022 is legally contestable. This decision now forms the basis for the class action lawsuit, which is intended to enable the overpayment of fees to be repaid.
Class action and register of claims: who can participate and what is important now
The opening of the register of claims by the Federal Office of Justice marks the beginning of the decisive phase for affected Prime subscribers. All persons who had an Amazon Prime or Amazon Prime Student subscription in 2022 and paid the increased price after September 15, 2022 are eligible to file a lawsuit. Registration in the register is a prerequisite for benefiting from a successful class action. The NRW consumer advice center provides a detailed completion guide to avoid formal errors.
Whether and to what extent refunds are possible depends on several factors. Decisive factors include the type of subscription and the chosen payment method. Monthly and annual subscriptions differ, as do regular prime and student tariffs. For orientation, the consumer advice center also offers a so-called lawsuit check, which can be used to check whether you are individually affected. A date for the hearing or a final decision has not yet been set. However, if the class action is successful, many Prime users could receive a full or partial refund of the overpayment.
Conclusion: Real chance of a refund for Prime subscribers
In retrospect, the Amazon Prime price increase of 2022 is proving to be legally problematic. Following the ruling by the Düsseldorf Regional Court, the class action that has now been launched creates a clear opportunity to enforce claims in a bundled manner. Those affected should check whether they meet the requirements and register in the register of claims in good time. Information on a possible repayment is already available, while price details and the duration of the proceedings are still open. One thing is certain, however: the prospects of success are considered realistic.
