Consumer faces €135 bill after misunderstanding mushroom identification app in Helsinki

Yrjö Kokko, a 60-year-old resident of Helsinki, discovered mushrooms while at his vacation home in Keuruu a few years ago. Curious about their identity and potential edibility, he downloaded a mushroom identification app and took a couple of pictures, believing the app would be a one-time cost of €30. However, he recently found out that the subscription fee had been charged to his credit card for three consecutive years, revealing that the app was not a one-time purchase as he assumed.

Kokko realized he had effectively spent €45 per photo and noted he had never used the app since that initial attempt. This scenario exemplifies a common issue known as service wastage, where individuals unknowingly pay for services they do not utilize. A survey by Yle garnered 90 responses from users sharing their experiences with service wastage, highlighting problems related to streaming services, gym memberships, and subscription-based vitamin deliveries.

Juha Beurling-Pomoell, Secretary-General of the Consumer Association, indicated that service wastage is prevalent and typically not illegal unless consumers are misled by additional conditions or deceptive practices, commonly referred to as “dark practices.” These can include automatically renewing subscriptions after free trials without clear notifications.

Kokko faced challenges canceling his subscription directly on the app’s website, leading to feelings of frustration. Yle assisted him in terminating the subscription, which required navigating through several menus, with no clear instructions provided. Beurling-Pomoell urged consumers to avoid impulse purchases and to be cautious, advising them to wait overnight before making any commitments.