A court in Rome has ruled that subscription price increases imposed by Netflix in Italy between 2017 and January 2024 were unlawful, opening the door to refunds of up to €500 per customer.
The decision follows a case brought by consumer group Movimento Consumatori, with the court finding that contractual clauses allowing price increases were “unfair” because they did not specify valid reasons, in breach of Italy’s Consumer Code.
As a result, the court declared multiple price hikes introduced in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024 invalid, and ruled that affected subscribers are entitled to reimbursement of overpayments, subscription price reductions, and potentially compensation.
Refunds could reach around €500 for long-term Premium subscribers and approximately €250 for Standard plan users, reflecting cumulative monthly increases of €8 and €4 respectively over the period.
The ruling also requires Netflix to notify both current and former customers of their rights, publishing the decision on its Italian website and in national newspapers. Reports indicate the company could face penalties if it fails to comply within a set timeframe.
In addition, subscription prices must be reduced to pre-increase levels, with Premium tiers reverting to around €11.99 and Standard to €9.99 for eligible users.
The case could affect millions of subscribers in Italy, where Netflix had approximately 5.4 million paying customers by 2025.
Netflix said it will appeal the ruling, stating that it “takes consumer rights very seriously” and believes its terms have complied with Italian law.
The decision is being closely watched across Europe, with similar disputes over subscription pricing and contract transparency already emerging in other markets under EU consumer protection rules.
