Adobe has been accused of misleading consumers by concealing the early-termination fee and making it challenging for individuals to terminate their subscriptions, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated in the complaint it filed on Monday that “Adobe has harmed consumers by enrolling them in its default, most lucrative subscription plan without clearly disclosing important plan terms.”
The complaint alleges that Adobe only discloses the early-termination fees when subscribers attempt to cancel, and it transforms the fee into a “powerful retention tool” by ensnaring consumers in subscriptions that they no longer desire.
“According to the complaint, Adobe hides material terms of its APM plan in fine print and behind option textboxes and hyperlinks, proving disclosures that are designed to go unnoticed and that most consumers never see. Adobe then deters cancellations by employing an onerous and complicated cancellation process.”
Adobe intends to contest the allegations in court.
In a statement, Adobe’s General Counsel and Chief Trust Officer, Dana Rao, stated “Subscription services are convenient, flexible and cost-effective to allow users to choose the plan that best fits their needs, timeline and budget. Our priority is to always ensure our customers have a positive experience. We are transparent with the terms and conditions of our subscription agreements and have a simple cancellation process.”
Adobe is accused by the government of pushing consumers towards the “annual paid monthly” subscription without disclosing that cancelling the plan during the first year would result in a cost of hundreds of dollars.
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