Overview
- The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato penalized three eDreams entities for two distinct unfair commercial practices under Italy’s Consumer Code.
- €6 million of the fine addresses deceptive and aggressive tactics that pushed users toward Prime, including time-pressure cues, artificial scarcity, and ambiguous discount claims.
- Pricing was presented non-transparently with differences tied to user paths or Prime status, obscuring the true value of purported savings.
- The company preselected the higher-priced Prime Plus option and immediately charged ineligible users for an annual plan after inducing them to accept a so‑called free trial without adequate notice.
- A further €3 million sanction cites obstruction of the right to withdraw through retention strategies via customer service, with no immediate remedies or company response detailed in the reporting.