Unfounded price increase: consumer center sued Disney Plus

The Brandenburg consumer center takes on the Disney Plus streaming service. The reason is a clause in the terms of use that allows the service to push through price increases without any justification.

Just a few weeks ago, the Disney Plus streaming service announced a price increase in the United States. A new price structure is to take effect there from December 8th.

The future standard subscription will remain at a price of 7.99 US dollars – but in return it will have advertising. The previous standard subscription is a premium subscription from December, which will cost $ 10.99.

In Germany, the streaming service has now filed a lawsuit with the Potsdam District Court for the announcement of such a price increase. Then the consumer advice center in Brandenburg discovered a rule violation in the Terms of Service.

Why is the consumer center suing Disney Plus?

A user from Cottbus has in turn contacted the organization. Because a price increase was announced to him, which would have made his annual subscription to Disney Plus around 30 percent more expensive.

For this reason, the consumer advice center has made the Disney Plus terms of use. It should be noted that the streaming service can change its “prices effective at the beginning of a new subscription period”.

Users would be notified of any such change 30 days in advance. However, according to the consumer advice center, an important point is missing in the terms of use, namely “on what factors the changes in prices could depend”.

Disney Plus has not responded to a warning

According to the Brandenburg consumer advice center, the clause in the Disney Plus terms of use violates applicable law. Because the providers would have to list cost elements in these clauses that could lead to a possible price increase.

A price increase should not only serve the purpose of bringing companies higher profits. For this reason, the Brandenburg Consumer Center initially warned Disney Plus.

However, the streaming service did not respond, which is why the consumer advice center has now filed a lawsuit with the district court in Potsdam.

What can users do?

Thanks to this clause, the streaming providers could “price unilaterally and without restrictions,” explains Michèle Scherer, an expert on digital issues at the consumer advice center in Brandenburg. This is not legal.

This means that consumers cannot estimate possible price increases when concluding the contract.

However, users could reject the price increase. However, the terms of use would not provide any information about the consequences of such a rejection for the customer.

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