Comments on: Apple hit with class action over iTunes double-billing http://gigaom.com/2012/05/03/apple-hit-with-national-class-action-over-itunes-double-billing/ Sun, 26 May 2013 06:59:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: tyson http://gigaom.com/2012/05/03/apple-hit-with-national-class-action-over-itunes-double-billing/#comment-838641 Fri, 04 May 2012 17:51:06 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=517340#comment-838641 Ive never had a problem with iTunes. Once when I had a problem downloading a video as part of a season pass they replied back and I went through a process of trying to fix it. For some reason the pass was broken and I couldn’t download one episode, so Apple gave me a full refund an allowed me to keep the shows I had already downloaded. That was great customer service to me. Also I bought a song twice without knowing it and Apple automatically sent me out a voucher code for one free song or video to make up for it.

I don’t see this class action lasting too long. IANAL though.

]]> By: gautamonline http://gigaom.com/2012/05/03/apple-hit-with-national-class-action-over-itunes-double-billing/#comment-838478 Fri, 04 May 2012 02:33:05 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=517340#comment-838478 Robert Herskowitz got his name in the news. Congrats Robert Herskowitz!

]]> By: Matthew Elvey http://gigaom.com/2012/05/03/apple-hit-with-national-class-action-over-itunes-double-billing/#comment-838451 Fri, 04 May 2012 00:45:08 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=517340#comment-838451 Before filing, don’t you have to send a formal demand letter. At least that’s the norm before filing a lawsuit, in my experience. IANAL.

]]> By: Michael W. Perry http://gigaom.com/2012/05/03/apple-hit-with-national-class-action-over-itunes-double-billing/#comment-838349 Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=517340#comment-838349 Stopping after an automated reply isn’t very impressive in today’s world. You’ve got to call and reach a real person if you want action. My hunch is that this Robert Herskowitz didn’t try very hard, perhaps as a ploy to justify a class action lawsuit that’ll enrich lawyers who’ll be billing $300 and hour up, but be on no value to Apple customers, who’ll find their filing hassle so great, they’ll be getting a few dollars an hour for their time.

If the legal profession had any real ethics–a real dubious if–it’d disbar lawyers who file class actions suits that enrich themselves but are so filled with hassles as to be worthless for the clients they claim to represent. In a lot of such disputes, it’s easy to suspect that the settlement hinges on enriching the suing lawyers by paying them well while making getting payments such a hassle, the company they sued doesn’t have to pay out much.

Of course, Apple is far from innocent here. It shouldn’t be that hard to create software that goes through all their billings and refunds all double charges. That’s something they should be doing every month like clockwork. Like the ‘bait apps’ for kids, Apple is getting stuck with a lawsuit not issuing prompt and customer-friendly refunds. That’s one area where Amazon clearly has Apple beat.

]]>