NordVPN Accused of “Deceptive” Auto-Renewal Subscriptions

NordVPN has been accused of using “deceptive” automatic renewal practices. The law firm Wittels McInturff Palikovic filed a class action lawsuit against the VPN provider, alleging that it intentionally designed a misleading system that, according to the complaint, makes it difficult for customers to cancel the service.

The claim filed against NordVPN and its related corporate entities, including Nord Security, was issued on March 28 and formally submitted in two federal courts: the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the Western District of North Carolina. The lawsuit represents NordVPN customers across the United States.

“This proposed class action lawsuit challenges Nord Security’s use of deceptive and illegal ‘automatic renewal’ tactics to trick customers into paying for unwanted, pricey subscriptions for the Internet privacy and security products,” states the legal document. “Nord Security intentionally misleads customers into thinking they can subscribe to privacy product offerings for a discrete period of time.”

Wittels McInturff Palikovic claims that NordVPN deliberately designs its system to mislead customers and prevent them from canceling their subscriptions. The law firm also argues that the agreement lacks transparency, and customers are not given sufficient notice about the renewal process.

According to Tom’s Guide, many companies offering subscription services have similar renewal systems. Wittels McInturff Palikovic has also presented similar cases against other VPN providers, although none of its claims have yet resulted in successful lawsuits.

NordVPN, for its part, assures that it complies with the law and meets the relevant requirements for its service and its customers.

"Nord Security continuously strives to provide an excellent customer experience and complies with legal requirements," said a spokesperson from NordVPN to Tom’s Guide. "We have responded to the lawsuits but cannot comment on the specific allegations at this time, other than to state that we are and always have been very clear about the recurring nature of our services."

NordVPN recently expanded its services by integrating post-quantum encryption across all its major app-supported platforms.