Maryland Joins Federal Lawsuit Alleging Deceptive Practices by Uber

A coalition of 22 state law enforcement agencies, led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, has joined a federal lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc. and Uber USA, LLC. The legal action, which is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses the popular rideshare and delivery company of employing deceptive enrollment, billing, and cancellation tactics concerning its subscription service, Uber One. The lawsuit, initially filed by the Federal Trade Commission, is currently scheduled for trial in February 2027.

The core of the lawsuit’s allegations centers on how Uber One, a service marketed to consumers as a way to save money on rides and deliveries, was offered and sold. According to the complaint, Uber utilized negative option marketing, a practice where consumers are automatically charged for a service if they do not actively cancel a free trial. The lawsuit contends that consumers were misled about the potential savings associated with an Uber One subscription and that the company made it significantly difficult for subscribers to cancel their memberships. Furthermore, the legal filing alleges that Uber charged users for the service before their designated billing dates, even impacting individuals who were still within their free trial periods.

Attorney General Brown stated that free trials should be genuinely free and not serve as mechanisms to trap consumers into ongoing, unwanted monthly charges. The lawsuit aims to put a stop to these alleged practices, which the Attorney General believes are deceiving consumers and leading to financial losses. Through this legal action, Attorney General Brown’s office is seeking restitution for affected consumers, along with penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber. These remedies are sought for alleged violations of both Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act and the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.

The coalition participating in this lawsuit includes the attorneys general from Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The District Attorney for Alameda County is also part of this collaborative effort. Consumers in Maryland who have experienced issues with Uber One and wish to file a complaint can contact the Consumer Protection Division by calling 410-528-8662, submitting a complaint online at https://oag.maryland.gov/, or by writing to the Consumer Protection Division at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.

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