Collective action against DAZN: 4,500 sports fans are already demanding money back

At first many were enthusiastic about DAZN. You could see international sport much cheaper than with the old top dog Sky. In the meantime, Sky has lost important TV rights such as Champions League and part of the Bundesliga to DAZN. And the new streaming giant drastically increases its prices. Watching football on television is expensive than ever. But was that allowed to increase his prices so much at all?

Consumers are primarily the price increases 2021 and 2022 in the side: In August 2021, DAZN increased its monthly price from 11.99 to 14.99 euros – and then to 29.99. The costs for the annual subscription rose from 119.99 to 149.99 euros in 2021 – and a year later to 274.99 euros. Basically, a provider may only increase its prices on a clear basis. But the VZBV sees that at DAZN as not given.

“The terms of use of DAZN were so spongy that they offered the company too much scope for arbitrary price and contract changes,” says Jutta Gurkmann, head of the Consumer Policy Department at the Federal Consumer Center (VZBV). However, this is considered a one -sided disadvantage of consumers because such vague clauses can be used in order to get additional profits at the expense of customers. Therefore, the VZBV filed a lawsuit.

This argument was followed by the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Munich in October last year – and largely gives consumer advocates right (). The terms and conditions on the basis of which the streaming service increased its prices are sometimes illegal. Even more: the OLG is so certain that it excluded the possibility of revision against the judgment. However, DAZN appealed to this in order to be able to contest the judgment before the Federal Court of Justice.

Upon request from star Immediately after the verdict, DAZN did not want to comment on the court decision at the time. In the meantime, DAZN has justified itself for the price increases: It was “no arbitrariness”, DAZN Germany boss Alice Mascia explained to that last week: “At that time we had improved our offer in a very short time by bought a third of Bundesliga rights and the major of the Champions League games.”

The judgment significantly increases the chances that the consumer advice centers will also be successful with their claim against DAZN in April 2024. Such complaints are very consumer -friendly, because customers of the station can join with little effort – and automatically receive part of the contributions paid in the event of a success.

Everyone who had already had a contract for one of the two price increases can join the class action. According to VZBV, 4,500 sports fans have already done this. On the other hand, new customers cannot reclaim anything.

In the meantime, the date for the first oral hearing has been set at the Hamm Higher Regional Court. It will take place in a year, on September 4, 2026. More information can be found. Those affected can therefore still agree with the class action.

Participation in the lawsuit is a matter of half an hour – and practically without any risk. In the worst case, you go away empty -handed, there are no costs. The VZBV website can be found.