FTC Sues JustAnswer Over Deceptive Subscription Practices

USA: FTC Sues JustAnswer Over Deceptive Subscription Practices

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint on Jan. 23, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing JustAnswer LLC and its chief executive, Andrew Kurtzig, of enrolling consumers in recurring monthly subscriptions without obtaining their affirmative consent.

Alleged Deceptive Practices

The agency alleges that JustAnswer promotes its service with claims that users can “join” for as little as $1 or $5, yet once a consumer signs up, the company immediately enrolls them in a subscription that costs between $28 and $125 per month and charges that fee along with the initial join amount.

FTC’s Legal Claims

According to the complaint, the conduct violates the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and the FTC Act because the pricing terms are not disclosed clearly and conspicuously, preventing consumers from giving informed, affirmative consent.

Consumer Impact

Consumers reportedly provided credit‑card information under the impression they were paying a one‑time fee, only to be billed monthly until they manually cancelled the service, a practice the FTC says obscures the true cost of the offering.

Regulatory Context

“JustAnswer’s misleading pricing tactics obscured the true price of its services, preventing consumers from making an informed choice on whether JustAnswer’s services were worth it to them,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. The FTC emphasizes that ROSCA requires clear disclosure of recurring charges before a transaction is completed.

Next Steps in Litigation

The Commission voted 2‑0 to pursue the case, seeking a court order to halt the alleged practices, restitution for harmed consumers, and civil penalties against both the company and its CEO. Staff attorneys Samantha Bennett, Evan Rose, and Alyssa Wu will represent the agency as the matter proceeds before the court.

This report is based on information from Federal Trade Commission, licensed under Public Domain (U.S. Government Work). Source: Official U.S. Government release.