FTC Sues Lens.com Over Hidden Fees That Doubled Contact Lens Prices
Federal regulators allege the online retailer buried bogus charges in ads and on its site, sometimes doubling the advertised price.
The Federal Trade Commission, alongside the attorneys general of Utah and Nevada, filed suit against online contact lens retailer Lens.com Inc., accusing the company of operating a prolonged deceptive pricing scheme that misled consumers about the true cost of contact lenses.
According to the complaint, Lens.com concealed what the agencies describe as fabricated "taxes & fees" charges that were not disclosed upfront in the company's search advertisements or clearly presented on its website. Regulators allege these hidden charges frequently doubled the final price consumers paid compared to the prices initially displayed.
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The multi-agency action reflects an intensifying federal and state focus on so-called junk fees — surprise charges that inflate the cost of goods and services after a consumer has already committed to a purchase. The FTC has increasingly targeted drip pricing tactics across retail and service industries in recent years.
Lens.com is a Utah-based online retailer that sells prescription contact lenses directly to consumers. The lawsuit seeks to halt the alleged deceptive practices and could result in financial penalties or restitution for affected buyers, though specific remedies were not detailed in the initial filing.
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