Netflix Price Hikes Are So Outrageous That They’re Actually Illegal

By TeeJay Small
| Published 14 seconds ago

Netflix subscribers have been subject to numerous price hikes in recent years, as the streaming giant continues squeezing every possible droplet of profitability out of their audience. If you feel that these price hikes are so outrageous that they should be outlawed, you’re not alone. Apparently, the government of Italy is taking action against Netflix, with Variety reporting that Italian customers may be entitled to millions in refunds. While this bears little immediate relevance to U.S. audiences, the ongoing legal case could set an important precedent for streaming practices in the future.

Per Variety, a Rome court has sided with a consumer advocacy group against Netflix. The filing argues that exponential price hikes, which took place from 2017 through 2024, are in direct violation of Italy’s national consumer code. Specifically, the Movimento Consumatori claims that corporations cannot unilaterally raise their rates on subscription-based services without offering advanced notice and a valid reason for the change. Since Netflix has made no major sweeping changes to its service and offered no such notice, they are alleged to be in violation of Italy’s consumer protection laws.

Netflix Fights Back

Reps from Netflix have already announced an intention to appeal this ruling, though it’s unclear what grounds they have to argue. The streamer has 90 days from the initial April 1 ruling to make their case, or they’ll be subject to daily $800 penalties. Meanwhile, lawyers Paolo Fiorio and Riccardo Pinna have demanded Netflix offer refunds of hundreds of dollars to individual subscribers.

Specifically, the legal team articulated “A ​Premium subscriber who has ​paid for Netflix continuously ⁠from 2017 to the present day is entitled to a refund of about €500 ($577), while a standard subscriber is due a refund of ​about €250 ($288).” Netflix boasted a subscriber base of over 8 million monthly users in Italy back in 2024, so these payouts could range into the hundreds of millions if they come to fruition.

Will Netflix Actually Have To Pay Up?

For now, it’s hard to say with any certainty that Netflix will pay up, or that this legal case will have sweeping ramifications for the streaming industry. Individual cases have been brought against streamers in European nations such as Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, though they have yet to cause any major ripple effect. But, if Netflix does seek to continue raising its rates, it bears asking, what exactly are we paying extra for?

To paraphrase one proud Italian-American from the small screen, Netflix subscribers may soon be informing the streamer, “You’ve got 90 days to give me my money.” If Netflix wants to respond with a Tony Soprano quote of their own, I’d suggest “with all due respect, you got no f-ing idea what it’s like to be number one.”