Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced on December 15, 2025, that his office is leading a coalition of 22 state and local law enforcement agencies joining an amended complaint in a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against Uber Technologies, LLC and Uber USA, LLC. The action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges deceptive enrollment, billing, and cancellation practices related to the Uber One subscription service. Trial is scheduled for February 2027.
The FTC originally filed the complaint in April 2025, claiming Uber charged consumers for Uber One without consent, failed to deliver promised savings such as $0 delivery fees and up to $25 monthly, and made cancellation difficult despite “cancel anytime” representations. The amended complaint, filed December 15, 2025, adds the coalition’s participation and seeks civil penalties under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and state laws.
Uber One is a monthly or annual subscription costing $9.99 per month or $100 per year, marketed for perks including no delivery fees on Uber Eats and discounts on rides. The lawsuit alleges Uber used negative option marketing for free trials, where failure to cancel results in automatic charges. Consumers reported enrollment without knowledge, early billing before trial periods ended, and failure to receive advertised savings.
Cancellation allegedly required navigating up to 23 screens and 32 actions, with added difficulty within 48 hours of billing dates, when in-app options were removed, forcing contact with support. Some users faced retention offers, surveys, or loops preventing completion.
Attorney General Brown stated, “Free trials should actually be free – not traps that lock Marylanders into unwanted monthly charges. We’re filing this lawsuit to stop Uber’s practices that we believe are deceiving consumers and costing them their hard-earned money.”
The coalition seeks restitution for affected consumers, penalties, costs, and an injunction against further violations of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act and ROSCA. ROSCA requires clear disclosures of terms, affirmative consent for recurring charges, and simple cancellation for online subscriptions.
Participating entities include the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, California, and the District of Columbia, plus the District Attorney for Alameda County, California.
Uber has denied the allegations, stating millions choose Uber One for savings and that cancellations take 20 seconds or less in-app. The company said it would vigorously defend the claims, arguing a successful suit would disrupt modern subscription models.
In Maryland, where Uber operates widely in areas like the Washington metropolitan region and Southern Maryland, the service is used for rides near military bases such as Naval Air Station Patuxent River and for deliveries in communities like Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. Consumers in these areas can file complaints with the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 410-528-8662, submitting online at the office website, or mailing to 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
The case aligns with FTC focus on subscription practices, including the “Click to Cancel” rule effective later in 2025, requiring easy cancellation. This multistate effort addresses consumer reports of unwanted charges amid rising living costs.