Italian Court Rules Netflix Must Refund Customers. Will It Happen in the US Next?
A solution for Netflix bill increases?
Streaming service price increases are the one thing everyone dislikes equally, but some subscribers may be getting some overdue relief. Last week, an Italian court ruled that Netflix’s price hikes in the country were unlawful and ordered the streamer to refund eligible Italian subscribers up to €500 euros.
According to a court ruling (via Reuters), Netflix’s price hikes violated the country’s Consumer Code—which provides consumer protections for Italian customers—because the streamer didn’t provide a valid reason for them in its subscriber contract. Court officials cited Netflix’s string of Premium plan price increases between 2017 and 2024, which hiked its cost to almost double that of Netflix’s Standard plan.
Subscribers are expected to have their Netflix price reduced and receive partial refunds. Netflix says it plans to appeal the Italian court’s decision.
What Netflix price increases mean for you
Streaming prices have gone up and up, and Netflix is no exception. The streamer’s Premium plan is the priciest on the market, and it just dropped another price hike late last month.
And to put it mildly, U.S. courts are less likely than their European counterparts to issue similar consumer-friendly rulings. For starters, federal regulators have rubber-stamped numerous mergers that will likely lead to higher prices for customers.
They’ve been similarly dismissive of suits against the major streamers. In 2025, a U.S. District Court dismissed a class action lawsuit against Amazon Prime Video over its ad-free tier, arguing that Amazon had clearly stated that it could change the terms of its membership benefits at any time.
That said, there are ways to work around these price hikes. Numerous cell phone and internet providers have started bundling free or discounted streaming services with their plans, so you can build a bundle of your own. But if you simply want to pay less for Netflix in the States, your best bet is to downgrade to an ad-supported tier or grin and bear it.
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