Case name
SETTLED: MATCH.COM Discounted Trial and Auto-Renewal Quebec Class Action.
Quebec Superior Court file #
500-06-000798-161;
What this case was about:
Plaintiff alleged that MATCH.COM violated paragraph c of section 230 of Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act by engaging in negative option billing practices. Under Quebec Consumer Protection law, it is illegal for merchants to automatically charge consumers, to whom they have provided services or goods free of charge (or at a reduced price) for a fixed period, the regular price for said goods or services at the end of the fixed period.
Class Description:
All consumers, pursuant to the terms of Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act, who, during the Class Period, were provided services or goods at a reduced price, or free of charge, for a fixed period, by Match.com, and who, after the fixed period, were required to send a notice to Match.com indicating that he/she does not wish to obtain the services or goods at the regular price;
Terms of the Settlement:
Compensation to class members under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, still subject to Court Approval, is as follows:
- Each member of the Class will automatically receive a free one month period to Match.com, as detailed at paragraph 3.1 of the Settlement Agreement.
Additionally, Match.com will cease the practice of giving a free or discounted trial and then automatically charging consumers in Quebec the regular price thereafter.
Status
Class Action Authorized for Settlement Purposes by the Honourable Stéphane Sansfaçon, J.C.S., of the Superior Court of Quebec, on November 1, 2017. Settlement Approval Hearing scheduled for April 13, 2018.
