Google Play Store

You could be owed compensation if you’ve spent money in Google’s Play Store

Google faces a £920m consumer legal claim for allegedly excessive Play Store charges. Sign up for updates if you bought apps on your android since 1 October 2015.

Google faces a £920m consumer legal claim for allegedly excessive Play Store charges. If you own an android smartphone or tablet and have spent money on apps or in-app content since 1 October 2015 then you could be eligible to claim money back. Sign up to stay updated.

Google in overcharging claim

Google has been accused of breaking the law by overcharging 19.5 million UK customers through taking up to 30% commission on apps and in-app digital content, services and subscriptions. It has been claimed this is unfair and excessive. 

When you pay to download an app or in-app content, up to 30% of what you spend goes straight to Google. This is because app developers are generally required to use Google’s payment system, which is where these charges are added. It is argued that this stops app developers from offering lower prices and leaves you footing the bill. 

Are you one of 19.5m UK customers who could be owed money?

You may be eligible for compensation if you:

• own or owned an Android smartphone or tablet with a UK version of Play Store preinstalled
• spent money in the Google Play Store since 1 October 2015. 

You can find a record of all your purchases by logging into your Play Store or Google account and checking ‘Payments and subscriptions’ or ‘Order history’.

The claim against Google

Consumer tech policy expert, Liz Coll, has launched the claim against Google on behalf of UK consumers. She alleges that Google has breached competition law by abusing its dominant position to charge these excessive prices. 

Coll’s application to take this to trial was granted in July 2022. Coll has instructed the law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP to represent her in the consumer collective claim to seek compensation for customers affected. This claim is funded by Vannin Capital.

How to claim compensation

This is an ‘opt-out’ collective claim, meaning you are automatically eligible for compensation if you have spent money in the Google Play Store since 1 October 2015. The purchases must have been made on an Android smartphone or tablet where Google Play was pre-installed.

You can find a record of all your purchases by logging into your Play Store or Google account and checking ‘Payments and subscriptions’ or ‘Order history’.

The claim applies to apps on Android smartphones and tablets that require download, subscription payments or allow for 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 Google’s payment system or pay Google the disputed 30% commission.

Sign up to Consumer Voice to stay updated and to find out when you can claim.