Unauthorized Subscription Charges You Never Signed Up For
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed June 28, 2025
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
Amazon is stealing with there "Free prime" I have no subscription but they are still carging me and prime video too.
Attorney Answer
Being billed for a subscription you never agreed to violates both federal and Utah law, and you have real remedies — starting with a refund request, a chargeback, and complaints to the agencies that enforce these rules.
Under the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8403, a seller may not charge a consumer for goods or services sold in an internet transaction through a negative option feature unless it clearly and conspicuously discloses all material terms before obtaining the consumer's billing information, obtains the consumer's express informed consent before charging the account, and provides a simple mechanism to stop recurring charges. That law is enforced by the FTC and by state attorneys general rather than through a lawsuit brought by an individual consumer.
Utah Code § 13-11-4 separately makes it a violation for a supplier to engage in a deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction, whether the deceptive conduct occurs before, during, or after the transaction. The examples listed in that section are expressly not exhaustive, so billing someone for a subscription they never authorized falls within the general prohibition.
What you can do
1. Sign in to the account and look for any subscription attached to it — a lapsed trial, a household member's sign-up, or a bundled offer is often the source. 2. Request a refund and cancellation directly from the company in writing, describing the charges as unauthorized. 3. If that does not resolve it, dispute the charges as unauthorized with your bank or card issuer through a chargeback. 4. File complaints with the FTC and with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. 5. Keep your statements, the date and amount of each charge, and every communication with the company.
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Courts & Legal Aid in Utah
- File or look up a case through the Utah State Courts.
- Get free civil legal help from Utah Legal Services.
- Use the LSC — Find Legal Aid to find a local legal-aid office by ZIP code.
- Use the LawHelp.org to browse free legal information and self-help resources.
- Use the ABA Lawyer Referral Directory to get matched with a local attorney through your state bar.
- Visit FTC — Report Fraud to report scams and deceptive business practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is negative option billing?
It is an arrangement where a consumer is charged on a recurring basis unless they take action to cancel. Federal law requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of the material terms, express informed consent before charging, and a simple way to stop the charges in internet transactions.
Can a consumer sue directly under the federal law on unauthorized online subscription charges?
Generally no. That law is enforced by the FTC and by state attorneys general rather than through a private lawsuit, though other routes remain available, including chargebacks and claims under state deceptive practices law.
What does Utah's Consumer Sales Practices Act prohibit?
It prohibits a supplier from engaging in a deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction, whether the deception occurs before, during, or after the transaction, and its list of specific examples is expressly not exhaustive.
