The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against JustAnswer LLC and its CEO, Andrew Kurtzig, alleging that the company deceived consumers by enrolling them in costly recurring monthly subscriptions without obtaining their clear consent. JustAnswer operates several online advice platforms, including JustAnswer.com, AskALawyerOnCall.com, AskAVeterinarianOnline.com, and AskWomensHealth.com.
According to the FTC's complaint, JustAnswer advertised that users could "join" the service and access expert advice for as little as $1 or $5. However, after signing up, consumers were enrolled in a monthly subscription costing between $28 and $125. The company charged this fee immediately along with the initial join fee and continued billing monthly until the consumer canceled.
Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, stated: “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. The FTC is focused on ensuring that online sellers transparently price their services.”
The complaint alleges that while some information about the required subscription was available on JustAnswer's website, it was not disclosed clearly or prominently enough to meet legal requirements under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA). As a result, many consumers provided credit card details without knowingly agreeing to ongoing charges.
The FTC claims these practices violate both ROSCA and the FTC Act. The agency is seeking a court order to stop these practices, secure refunds for affected consumers, and impose civil penalties against both JustAnswer and Kurtzig.
The Commission voted unanimously to file the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case will be decided by the court.
“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 is focused on ensuring that online sellers transparently price their services.”
FTC staff attorneys Samantha Bennett, Evan Rose, and Alyssa Wu from its Western Region San Francisco office are handling this matter.
The Federal Trade Commission promotes competition while working to protect and educate consumers about frauds and scams through resources such as consumer.ftc.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
