Freelancers and gig shoppers beware: Fiverrthe popular freelancing platform that promises transparent, upfront pricing, is now facing a class action lawsuit in California for (allegedly) slipping in sneaky “junk fees” at checkout.
The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County in this month, claims Fiverr misleads customers by showing one price upfront and tacking on unavoidable service fees only at the final payment screen. The practice, according to the plaintiffs, left users feeling cornered, with little option but to accept the higher price after investing time choosing a freelancer.
So, if you used Fiverr on or after July 1, 2024, and live in California, you might qualify to join the class action lawsuit. Keep on reading.
Lawsuit against Fiver
The lawsuit alleges that Fiverr’s checkout practices violate multiple California consumer protection lawsincluding the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law.
At the heart of the complaint is Fiverr’s so-called “service fee”, which ranges from 5% to 20% or higher, depending on the size of the order. According to the plaintiffs, this fee isn’t disclosed until the user is deep into the purchase process and emotionally committed to the gig.
Marcus Johnson, the named plaintiff, argues that this last-minute fee is not just frustrating, but straight up deceptive. It creates a scenario where the advertised price feels like a bait-and-switchcatching consumers off guard after they’ve carefully selected their service provider.
How to join the class action against Fiverr
If you’ve used Fiverr recently and felt like you were hit with mystery fees, you might be eligible to join the lawsuit… but only if you live in California and purchased services on or after July 1, 2024.
At this point, the lawsuit is strictly focused on California residentssince it’s based on California state laws. Users outside the state (or outside the U.S.) aren’t includedthough separate legal actions could pop up if the case gains traction.
For now, consumers who fit the criteria don’t need to take immediate action. If the court certifies the class, notifications will be sent out, and eligible users will be automatically included unless they opt out.
Still, for those eager to get ahead of the game, reaching out to the law firms handling the case (including Strux flock plclc and Cohen Malad LLP) is a good option.
How much were these “junk fees” really costing you?
While Fiverr isn’t the only platform to charge service fees, what’s irking consumers is the lack of transparency upfront. The lawsuit claims that:
- Service fees often range from 5% to 20% depending on the order size and type.
- On smaller orders, the percentage could climb even higher due to flat fees and extra chargesmaking a $50 logo design suddenly cost $65 or more by checkout.
Fiverr’s case vs. Nissan’s rental scandal—Spot the pattern?
This isn’t the first time companies have gotten into hot water over fees that appear out of nowhere. In May 2025, Nissan and eight New York car dealerships agreed to pay $3.2 million after being accused of adding illegal junk fees to customers during lease buyouts, with some victims paying up to $5,000 extra in bogus charges.
Just like Fiverr’s hidden service fees, Nissan’s dealerships reportedly waited until customers were at the final purchase step to reveal the add-ons, banking on the fact that people would feel trapped into paying.
It’s no wonder regulators and consumer watchdogs are cracking down. In California, in particular, lawmakers have been ramping up enforcement on companies that play loose with fee disclosures, seeing them as predatory tactics that hurt working families and small businesses. So next time you need to rent a car, remember to read the fine print!
