You could be owed compensation if you’ve spent money in Apple’s App Store
Apple faces a legal claim of £1.5bn for excessive App Store charges. Sign up to stay updated if you bought apps on your iPhone or iPad since 1 October 2015.
Apple faces a legal claim of up to £1.5bn for allegedly overcharging for App Store purchases. You could be eligible to claim money back if you are one of its 20m UK customers who owns an iPhone or iPad and have spent money on apps or in-app content, services or subscriptions since 1 October 2015.
Apple in overcharging claim
Apple has been accused of unfair and excessive pricing for charging as much as 30% commission on paid-for apps and in-app digital content, services and subscriptions.
When you pay to download an app or in-app content, up to 30% of what you spend goes straight to Apple. This is because app developers are forced to use Apple’s payment system, which is where these charges are added. It is argued that these high charges would not be necessary if app developers could use other payment systems.
Are you one of 19.6m UK customers who could be owed money?
You may be eligible for compensation if the claim is successful and you:
- If you own an iPhone or iPad and spent money in the UK Apple App Store since 1 October 2015.
- You were living in the UK on 5 May 2022, and didn’t opt-out of the claim by 9 September 2022.
The claim against Apple
Digital economy and society lecturer, Dr Rachael Kent, has launched the claim against Apple on behalf of UK consumers and businesses. She alleges that Apple has breached competition law by abusing its dominant position by charging these excessive prices. The trial commences on 13 January 2025, unless Apple settles beforehand.
Dr Kent has instructed the law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP to represent her in the consumer collective claim to seek compensation for affected UK App Store customers. This claim is funded by Vannin Capital, a commercial litigation funder.
How to claim compensation
This is an ‘opt-out’ collective claim, meaning you are automatically eligible for compensation if the claim is won and you have spent money in the Apple App Store since 1 October 2015. You can find a record of all your purchases in your App Store Purchase History.
The claim applies to apps on iPhones and iPads that require download, subscription payments or in-app purchases. It does not apply to apps that provide physical goods or services – like Deliveroo or Uber – which are not required to use Apple’s payment system or pay Apple the disputed 30% commission.
Sign up to Consumer Voice to stay updated and to find out when you can claim.
We will keep you updated on the latest developments in the Apple App Store claim and other group consumer claims.
What’s happening with this claim?
The Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed Apple’s attempts to limit the consumer claim in July 2022. The claim was first filed in May 2021 but Apple appealed to the Tribunal in an attempt to restrict the allegations made. The Tribunal’s decision to deny the appeal means Dr Kent’s legal claim is now proceeding to full trial, which commences on 13 January 2025. A similar claim is being pursued by Liz Coll regarding Google’s alleged abuse of Play Store practices.
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