Nord Security Faces Another Class Action Over Deceptive Subscription Renewal Practices

Nord Security, a prominent provider of digital privacy and cybersecurity tools, is facing increasing legal scrutiny over its subscription practices. Top Class Actions reports that a lawsuit was recently filed in Illinois federal court.

Sasgen v. NordVPN S.A et al echoes claims made in similar filings in New York and Colorado, that Nord Security misleads consumers into paying for unwanted subscriptions for its internet privacy and security products. The multiple filings raise the issue of recurring billing schemes across state lines.

The defendant offers products such as NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker that protect user data through VPNs, password managers, and encrypted storage. 

The Illinois lawsuit claims Nord Security violates both state and federal consumer protection laws, including the Illinois Automatic Contract Renewal Act.

Sasgen alleges that Nord’s automatic renewal disclosures are not clearly presented during the subscription process. He further contends that consumers are charged well before their subscription ends, with limited ability to cancel in time.

The lawsuit also criticizes the cancellation process as overly complex, involving several layers of account navigation that are designed to trick consumers into paying unwanted fees.

These tactics, according to the complaint, amount to “negative option” billing, in which silence or inaction is interpreted as consent, in violation of the Illinois law.

Legal teams for tech companies relying on recurring billing should monitor the progress of these cases. If certified, a multi-state class action could set precedents that require costly appeals or modified billing practices.

Clear, conspicuous disclosures and easy cancellation mechanisms could act to mitigate future litigation exposure.