Spotify has quietly initiated a refund for its soon-to-be-discontinued Car Thing, responding to user dissatisfaction and a recent class-action lawsuit. The company announced on Thursday that as of the previous Friday, customers with proof of purchase, such as an emailed invoice, can contact customer service to receive a refund for the vehicle streaming service.
This decision follows Spotify’s said that it will deactivate all Car Thing devices on December 9, 2024. The company explained that this step is part of a broader strategy to simplify its product range and concentrate on creating new features to improve user experience. Despite these justifications, the announcement has largely failed to alleviate user frustration.
Users on TikTok, X and other social media platforms have voiced their displeasure, with many expressing their frustration through videos and direct messages. Some Spotify customer service agents offered several months of free Premium access instead of refunds, leading to further confusion and dissatisfaction, reports TechCrunch.
The situation escalated with a class-action lawsuit filed on May 28 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, notes Billboard. The lawsuit accuses Spotify of misleading customers by selling a $90 product that would soon become obsolete without offering refunds, a complaint that resonates with many affected users.
The company sent a second email to the customers, providing a link to talk to customer support services after the growing dissatisfaction with social media. As per a report by Engadget, Spotify maintains that it began offering refunds before the lawsuit was filed, stating that the refund process started on May 24. This timeline suggests that the decision to issue refunds was not a direct response to the legal action but a preemptive measure to address growing customer discontent.
Although the refund announcement will relieve the customers, many are still pleading with Spotify to open-source the product. The company is still silent on this particular customer request.
In the News: Cooler Master confirms Fanzone breach; 500,000 people at risk
