For those of you who have decided to indulge in an afternoon tea today, some justice may also be served in addition to your ‘cuppa.’ Certain iPhone users could receive £75 compensation, but only iPhone owners who bought their mobile phone within a 10-year window may qualify. So kick back and relax while we spill the tea on why the tech giant could end up paying compensation to millions of customers. Who knows, you may also end up on the receiving end of some additional money.
Spilling the tea about justice being served
One of the most popular brands in the UK smartphone market was recently in the midst of a class action lawsuit, led by academic Dr Rachael Kent. Apple allegedly exploited its dominant market position by excluding competition with the app store and charging commission that was deemed ‘excessive and unfair.’ According to Dr Kent, users reportedly lost £1.5 billion over a decade due to unfair charges.
Dr Kent became the first female Class Representative in the UK’s class action lawsuit system and led the case on behalf of 36 million impacted customers in the UK. According to the class action lawsuit, in the majority of cases, reportedly 30% of the paid app, subscription, or in-app purchases bought on the app store directly went to Apple as commission. As a result, customers allegedly experienced higher user costs.
The Competition Appeals Tribunal eventually rules against Apple. It concluded that Apple had exploited its market dominance by “blocking competition in the iOS app distribution and in-app payment markets.”
iPhone users could receive £75 compensation
The judgment ruling confirmed that the overall damages claim will be a significant amount, and may range from £1.184 billion to £2.237 billion, including interest claimed. The total amount you could receive in compensation will vary based on the number of claims that are filed. According to the judgment, compensation will be between £27 and £75. An upcoming hearing will determine how the damages are calculated.
This class action lawsuit’s compensation may not make you rich, but it is better than nothing. Those opting for more compensation, drivers may also claim their share of £14.2 million in car compensation. Eligible customers could receive a response within one month. With regards to the £75 compensation, only certain Apple customers will be deemed eligible for the money.
Only these customers may qualify for the money
Only the following Apple customers may be eligible for compensation:
- Owners of an iPhone or iPad bought between 1 October 2015 and 15 November 2024, and
- Owners who made purchases of paid apps or in-app items during that period
You can confirm your eligibility by logging into your Apple App Store and searching your account’s ‘Purchase History.’ While the default may be set to view the last 90 days’ purchases, you can review periods dating back further.
No matter what, fair field prevails at the end of the day. This was proven by the car insurance compensation of up to £200 million that will be shared among eligible Britons. So, we hope that when life throws you a bone, no matter how big or how small, you seize it fullheartedly.
“This is a landmark victory – not only for App Store users, but for anyone who has ever felt powerless against a global tech giant.” – Dr Kent
However, before seizing the opportunity, be warned that it’s not over yet. Apple had confirmed plans to appeal the court ruling. According to Apple, the ruling “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy.” A spokesperson added that the app store helps developers to succeed and enables customers to discover apps safely and make payments securely, something which the ruling overlooks. For additional information, you can review Case No. 1403/7/7/21 in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Disclaimer: You should not submit false or inflated claims under penalty of perjury, as class‑action claim forms historically required declarations signed “under penalty of perjury” to ensure authenticity. Submitting a fraudulent claim not only carries legal exposure—including potential civil and criminal sanctions—but also harms other eligible class members by diluting the available settlement pool.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.