A class action lawsuit accuses Dunkin' Donuts of imposing hidden dine-in fees on customers without prior disclosure. The plaintiffs claim that the company's practice of revealing the charges only on receipts after purchase is deceptive and harmful to consumers.
Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased items from Dunkin' Donuts and were charged hidden dine-in fees.
Reason for Lawsuit: Allegations of undisclosed fees, deceptive business practices, breach of contract, and violations of consumer protection laws.
Court: The class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Dunkin’ Donuts violates consumer laws by sneaking hidden fees onto customer orders when they opt to dine in, rather than take out, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs John Michael Taferner and Itzel Diaz filed the complaint on July 8 in a California federal court, targeting Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., its owner Inspire Brands Inc., and other affiliates of the coffee and donut chain.
The plaintiffs claim Dunkin’ has violated state and federal consumer laws by allegedly imposing undisclosed charges on customer orders when they dine in-store.
The lawsuit centers on accusations that Dunkin’ charges a dine-in fee or other hidden fees that customers aren’t told about before they complete their transactions.
According to the plaintiffs, these charges are only revealed on the receipt after the purchase, leaving customers totally unaware of the additional costs at the time of payment.
The plaintiffs say that if they knew about the dine-in fees in advance, they would have either opted for carry-out to avoid the charge or chosen not to purchase from Dunkin’ at all.
Taferner said he visited a Dunkin’ location in California in late 2023. After ordering a medium coffee at an advertised price, he discovered an unexpected $0.50 dine-in fee on his receipt.
“At no time did the cashier mention that there was an added fee for ordering items inside the restaurant, and Plaintiff Taferner did not see any disclosure about there being an additional fee for ordering an item inside the store,” the lawsuit says.
The complaint alleges that the practice has broader implications on vulnerable consumers, particularly low-income individuals and immigrants with limited English proficiency.
The plaintiffs say it is unreasonable to expect these consumers to proactively ask about potential hidden fees, and they argue that Dunkin’s actions disproportionately harm these demographics.
The lawsuit also accuses Dunkin’ of making a "calculated decision" to prioritize a sleek, minimalist marketing aesthetic at the expense of comprehensive consumer disclosure.
The plaintiffs are suing on behalf of all U.S. consumers who purchased items from any Dunkin’ location and were charged hidden fees.
They allege violations of California business laws, breach of express warranty, breach of contract, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs, and a jury trial. Taferner and Diaz are also demanding that Dunkin’ stop its alleged practice of imposing undisclosed dine-in fees.
Meanwhile, a new state law in California, Senate Bill 478, recently went into effect to take aim at fees tacked onto a bill beyond the listed prices. The law bans restaurant service fees, including the 20 percent automatic gratuity for large parties that some restaurants charge automatically for the increased service.
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