NordVPN Faces Class Action Over Alleged Deceptive Auto-Renewal Practices

NordVPN, one of the world's largest virtual private network providers, faces a class action in Massachusetts federal court accusing it of quietly overcharging customers through deceptive subscriptions. This latest case adds to mounting litigation regarding NordVPN's subscription practices, as the privacy company is also facing class action lawsuits in California, Colorado, New York, Illinois, and North Carolina. The lawsuit claims NordVPN quietly increases subscription renewal prices without proper notice, charges customers weeks before their subscriptions actually renew, and denies timely refund requests despite advertising a "30-day money-back guarantee."

"This case is about fairness and transparency from a company that claims to safeguard both," said Burkett McInturff of Wittels McInturff Palikovic. "NordVPN markets itself as a trusted privacy company, yet it takes advantage of trusting customers—quietly hiking prices, charging early, and misrepresenting its refund policy. We're going to hold them accountable." According to the lawsuit, NordVPN's website and checkout process do not clearly disclose that renewal prices will increase once the initial subscription ends. Many users, the suit says, only discover the higher charges after the fact when they review their credit card statements.

Worse, NordVPN charges the higher subscription renewal price roughly two weeks before the renewal date, a tactic that effectively traps users in a new annual plan before they can cancel. And because NordVPN backdates its "30-day money-back guarantee" to the date of the charge, the guarantee is, in practice, far less than 30 days. "Consumers sign up expecting privacy and flexibility," said Scott Harris of Bryson Harris Suciu & DeMay, PLLC ("BHSD"). "Instead, NordVPN locks them in with hidden charges and fine print that undercuts its own promises."

The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and a court order halting NordVPN's allegedly unlawful billing practices. It asserts violations of Chapter 93A, the Massachusetts consumer-protection statute, and the common law. The case is Rene Tio v. NordVPN S.A. and Tefincom S.A. d/b/a NordVPN, pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Case number, 1:25-cv-13374. Mr. Tio's legal team, consisting of Wittels McInturff Palikovic and Bryson Harris Suciu & DeMay, PLLC, has requested a jury trial.