Costa Mesa, CAGrindr Xtra, a global dating website that caters to gay, bisexual and curious types, has a consumer fraud lawsuit on its plate over the way it handles subscriber cancellations.
“There are people that, for whatever motivation, sign up and then regret it and want to cancel,” says Matthew Loker, an attorney from the Kazerouni Law Group.
“And we believe there is enough cause here and enough people in that situation for a class-action suit to be successful.”
Grindr Xtra, according to the complaint filed, claims to have more than 5 million subscribers in 192 countries. The cost of a one-month subscription is $11.99. Its main customers are gay men.
California consumer law says subscribers have a kind of “buyer’s remorse” option. Known as the “Dating Service Act,” the statute says that subscribers have three days in which to cancel their subscription after signing the contract. That information must be clearly stated on the contract and the service provider must provide an address where buyers that change their minds can send a letter or a telegram.
And, if that information is not there, then the buyer can cancel “anytime” and expect a refund for the month prorated from the date of cancellation.
“The problem is that Grindr makes them pay for the whole month,” says Loker, who represents the lead plaintiff in the case.
California is known for its consumer law and Loker says companies that expect to do business in the state need to be familiar with the kind of rules set out in the “Dating Service Act.”
Anyone who purchased a subscription in California in which Grindr failed to include the consumer’s right to cancel the contract within the last four years is eligible to be a member of the class action.
LAS contacted Grindr for comment but as of press time, had received no reply.
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