How TINA.org Readers Helped Us Hold Deceptive Marketers Accountable in 2023

Consumer tips worth remembering.

Givebutter’s Hidden Fees

How a donation made on this fundraising platform can turn into a costly transaction.

Apple’s Subscriptions to Digital Content

2017 Collection

CATrends: Deceptive Tactics Used to Market Subscriptions

Lawsuits allege companies fail to make adequate disclosures.

airSlate’s pdfFiller

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that consumers who sign up for a “free trial” are automatically enrolled in an autorenewing subscription that is then difficult to cancel

Dodge

TINA.org investigated the marketing for three Stellantis automotive brands, including Dodge, and found that each deceptively advertised vehicles as “built” and/or “made” in the U.S. when they are actually assembled…

FabKids

TINA.org found kids clothing brand violated a court order with its negative option offer and deceptive ads.

IYOVIA/IM Mastery Academy/iMarketsLive

TINA.org investigated International Markets Live, Inc., otherwise known as iMarketsLive, IML, IM Mastery Academy, IMMA, or IYOVIA, a multilevel marketing company that sells, among other things, financial educational products, and…

Jeep

TINA.org investigated the marketing for three Stellantis automotive brands, including Jeep, and found that each deceptively advertised vehicles as “built” and/or “made” in the U.S. when they are actually assembled…

MoviePass

TINA.org submitted a comment to the FTC regarding a proposed consent order reached in a case it filed against MoviePass, a subscription-based movie ticketing service, supporting the Commission’s use of…

Afterpay

Allegations: Misleadingly marketing its service as a no-fee, no-interest way for consumers to make purchases before they have money to pay for them without disclosing that consumers who provide debit…

Life Alert

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose the terms of automatic renewal and continuous service offers resulting in consumers being charged without their consent

Bitdefender’s Antivirus Software

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that programs automatically renew resulting in consumers being charged without consent

Dermaset

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that consumers who pay for shipping and handling of “free” cosmetics will be enrolled in an automatic renewal offer

GoDaddy.com

Allegations: Automatically enrolling customers into an annual plan for services at a price that the company chooses resulting in customers being charged without their consent

Subscriptions to The New York Times

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that consumers are enrolled in a program that automatically renews their subscriptions

Subscriptions to Consumer Reports

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose the terms of automatic renewal and continuous service subscriptions

Conde Nast Entertainment

Allegations: Failing to disclose that consumers who sign up for magazine subscriptions will be enrolled in automatic renewal subscriptions

Subscriptions to Reader’s Digest and Other Magazines

Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that subscriptions to magazines will be automatically renewed