Ever looked at your credit card statement and felt that sudden, cold spike of annoyance? You see a $9.99 charge from Uber. But you didn't order a burrito yesterday. You haven't taken a ride in weeks.
Honestly, you're not alone. Thousands of people have been staring at those same charges, wondering how they got signed up for a service they never asked for. This isn't just a glitch in the app. It's at the heart of a massive legal war between the Federal Trade Commission and the ride-hailing giant.
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The Uber deceptive billing FTC case is basically a masterclass in what happens when "growth at all costs" meets federal regulators. In December 2025, things escalated quickly when 21 states and the District of Columbia joined the FTC's amended complaint. We're talking about a legal battle over "dark patterns"—those sneaky design tricks that make it easy to buy something but nearly impossible to quit.
The "Doom Loop" and 23 Screens of Frustration
The FTC isn't just annoyed; they’re alleging that Uber systematically trapped people in the Uber One subscription. If you’ve ever tried to cancel, you know the drill. You tap a button. The app asks why. You answer. It offers you a discount. You say no. It asks you to "pause" instead.
According to the FTC’s filing, some users had to navigate through as many as 23 different screens and perform up to 32 separate actions just to stop the billing.
Think about that for a second.
You can buy a car in fewer clicks. The government calls this a "doom loop." It’s designed to wear you down until you just give up and let the ten bucks go for another month. For a company like Uber, ten dollars from a few million "forgetful" subscribers adds up to a massive, undeclared tax on consumer patience.
Those "Savings" That Don't Actually Save Anything
Uber One was marketed with a big, bold promise: Save $25 every month.
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Sounds great, right? Except the FTC alleges the math was kinda fuzzy. The complaint points out that Uber often advertised that $25 savings figure without actually subtracting the $9.99 cost of the membership itself. If you spend ten dollars to save twenty-five, you didn't save twenty-five. You saved fifteen.
It gets worse.
A lot of people reported being charged for Uber One even when they didn't have an Uber account. Imagine getting billed for a subscription to a service you don’t even use. The FTC’s evidence includes complaints from people who found their debit card info had been pulled into the system without their knowledge. In some cases, users signed up for a "free trial" and were hit with the full monthly fee before the trial even ended.
Why 21 States Just Joined the Fight
This isn't just a Washington D.C. problem anymore. When 21 states—including heavy hitters like California, New York, and Ohio—jump into a lawsuit, it means the scale of the alleged "billing trickery" is massive.
The lawsuit focuses heavily on the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA).
ROSCA is a relatively simple law. It says if you're going to charge someone's card on a recurring basis, you have to:
- Clearly tell them what they’re signing up for.
- Get their explicit "yes."
- Give them a simple way to stop the charges.
The FTC argues Uber failed all three. Especially the "simple way to cancel" part. Up until recently, if you tried to cancel within 48 hours of your renewal, the "cancel" button might just disappear entirely, forcing you to contact a support team that was notoriously hard to reach.
A History of "Creative" Billing
Uber has a bit of a track record here. This isn't their first rodeo with the FTC. Back in 2017, the company had to cough up $20 million because they allegedly lied to drivers about how much they could earn. They told people in New York they’d make a median of $90,000. The reality? It was closer to $61,000.
They also had a "Vehicle Solutions Program" that promised low-cost leases for as little as $17 a day. Drivers ended up paying over $200 a week. The pattern is pretty clear: big promises in the marketing, complicated math in the fine print, and a very difficult exit strategy for the consumer.
What This Means for Your Wallet Right Now
If you're currently an Uber One subscriber, or if you think you might be one of the "accidental" members, you need to be proactive. Uber has denied the allegations and says their processes are "lawful and straightforward," but they’ve also quietly updated the app to make cancellation a bit easier following the pressure.
How to protect yourself:
- Check your "Memberships" tab in the Uber and Uber Eats apps immediately. Don't assume you aren't enrolled just because you don't remember doing it.
- Audit your bank statements for that specific $9.99 or $96.00 charge.
- Screenshot everything. If you try to cancel and the app sends you into a loop, take a screen recording. This is your evidence if you need to dispute the charge with your bank.
- Don't rely on "support." If the app won't let you cancel, call your credit card company and request a "stop payment" for that merchant.
The Uber deceptive billing FTC case is still pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. There isn't a "settlement check" in the mail just yet. However, the FTC is seeking permanent injunctions and civil penalties. This usually leads to a massive pot of money meant for consumer refunds.
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If you’ve been wrongly billed, keep your records. You’ll likely need them when the claims process eventually opens up. For now, the best move is to stay vigilant. Big tech companies count on the fact that most of us are too busy to hunt down a ten-dollar error. Don't let them be right.
Next Steps for You:
Log into your Uber app right now and navigate to the 'Account' section, then tap 'Uber One.' If you see a "Manage Membership" screen that makes it difficult to leave, take a screenshot of the steps you are forced to take. If you find charges you didn't authorize, file a formal complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to ensure your experience is part of the official record.