Homeaglow’s $19 house cleaning service traps customers in hard-to-cancel subscriptions, watchdog group says

Many consumers complained the one-time $19 cleaning came with an automatic enrollment in a six-month cleaning subscription, called ForeverClean. The subscription’s monthly fees were $49 to $59. But Homeaglow’s independent contractors also charge their own cleaning fees on top of Homeaglow’s fees, with prices varied by job.

Some consumers who tried to cancel were told they’d owe hefty early termination fees, in some cases $150 to $210.

Truth in Advertising has sent letters to the FTC and attorneys general in 12 states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia asking them to investigate.

The nonprofit organization says the automatic subscription model, which it contends is not clearly disclosed, violates state consumer protection laws and the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act of 2010, which protects consumers against so-called “negative option” marketing that employs automatic subscriptions without clear disclosures of the terms.

The setup is “especially egregious” and “deceptive,” says Laura Smith, legal director for Truth in Advertising.

Homeaglow agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a lawsuit filed last year by Pennsylvania, and it promised to clearly and conspicuously disclose its membership terms on its websites.

More at source: WBEZ Chicago

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