An Italian court has ordered Netflix to reimburse subscribers after ruling that price increases over the past seven years broke the law.
The ruling followed a case brought by Italian consumer group Movimento Consumatori, which argued that Netflix’s price hikes between 2017 and January 2024 did not comply with Italian consumer law.
The court agreed, finding that the increases were unlawful because Netflix’s contracts did not include a valid reason for raising prices – a breach of Italy’s National Consumer Code.
Subscribers could now be entitled to significant refunds. Those on the Premium plan may be owed up to €500 ($576), while Standard plan subscribers could receive up to €250 ($288).
The court also ordered Netflix to publish the ruling on its Italian website and in major national newspapers, so that affected customers know they can claim reimbursement.
Netflix has pushed back against the decision, insisting its terms have “always complied with Italian laws and practice” and confirming it plans to appeal.
In addition to refunds, the ruling also entitles current subscribers to a reduction on their existing Netflix subscription price.
