COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has joined a multistate lawsuit against Uber USA, LLC and Uber Technologies, Inc., accusing the ride-share company of deceptive practices related to its Uber One subscription service.
The lawsuit, originally filed by the Federal Trade Commission and now pending in U.S. District Court in California, alleges that Uber misled consumers by offering “free trials” that automatically converted into paid subscriptions without clear notice. The complaint also claims Uber exaggerated potential savings, made subscriptions difficult to cancel, and, in some cases, charged customers before a free trial ended or before the stated billing date.
“Uber took consumers for a ride – and it wasn’t what they signed up for,” Yost said in a statement. “A free trial shouldn’t lead to a surprise bill, and canceling shouldn’t become an exercise in frustration.”
According to the lawsuit, these practices violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide transparent terms and fair cancellation options. The legal action seeks refunds for affected consumers, civil penalties, and a court order preventing Uber from continuing the alleged practices.
Ohio joins a broad coalition of states and jurisdictions supporting the lawsuit, including Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and Alameda County, California.
The case remains pending as the court considers the claims against the ride-sharing giant.
