“Justice belongs to those who stand up for their rights. Every consumer has the power to make a difference.”
Research, analysis and commentary on collective redress across Europe.
Vanguard & Geller follows large-scale disputes involving consumers, investors and groups of claimants. We research collective proceedings, map the frameworks through which remedies are pursued, and publish plain-language analysis of what those developments mean in practice. We are an independent research and information organisation.
A growing focus
Subscriptions that look legitimate but are built to mislead. AI “credit” plans, free trials that silently convert to paid, hidden recurring billing, and cancellations buried behind dark patterns. We track how these schemes are structured, where the money moves, and which enforcement and redress routes apply.
What we watch
Recent developments
Time has published an extensive article on revelations emerging from court filings in litigation alleging that Meta downplayed risks to children and misled the public. We track and summarise publicly reported developments as they unfold.
See the register →This litigation concerned allegations that Heartland Payment Systems wrongly charged “Program Fees” each time people uploaded money to the MySchoolBucks website, and it was resolved by settlement. We track and summarise publicly reported developments as they unfold.
See the register →Federal multidistrict litigation alleges that certain hair relaxer products cause uterine and ovarian cancer. These claims remain contested. We track and summarise publicly reported developments as they unfold.
See the register →Current register
A summary of the subject areas currently held on file. Entries describe the conduct being documented, not any finding against a named party.
| Reference | Subject area | Jurisdiction | Status | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VG-2026-0117 | AI credit and token subscriptions | EU / UK | Open file | August 2026 |
| VG-2026-0092 | Free-trial auto-conversion (streaming and utilities apps) | Netherlands / Belgium | Under review | July 2026 |
| VG-2025-0431 | Cancellation friction and retention dark patterns | United Kingdom | Referred | June 2026 |
| VG-2025-0288 | Undisclosed recurring fees on top-up platforms | Cross-border | Monitoring | May 2026 |
How we work
Reports are logged with the date, the product or service, the billing descriptor that appeared on the statement and the payment route used.
Each account is checked against screenshots, bank or card statements and the trader's own published terms as they stood on the relevant date.
Repeat conduct across separate reports is grouped into a single documented file, with dates, volumes and the mechanics of the billing recorded.
Findings are published with named sources and a review date, and are revised when the underlying material changes.
Where appropriate, files are shared with the relevant supervisory authorities, consumer bodies and funders of collective proceedings.
Every published item carries named sources and a last-reviewed date. Where a document is public, we link to it directly rather than paraphrasing it.
Errors of fact are corrected promptly and the correction is recorded on the item itself, with the date on which it was made.
Any trader named in a file may submit a response. Responses received are published alongside the file, unedited save for length.
Reference framework
The route through which qualified entities bring collective proceedings on behalf of consumers across the Union.
The standard against which misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive practices are measured.
Pre-contract information, the express-consent requirement for payment, and withdrawal rights in distance contracts.
The subscription-contract regime: reminder notices, cooling-off periods and straightforward exit.
The lawful basis and transparency conditions applying to the data collected in the course of these arrangements.
In the press
We map how group and collective proceedings are formed across Europe, who can bring them, and how they progress once filed.
We follow matters with a wider public dimension and publish accessible summaries of what the filings and rulings actually say.
We study the mechanics behind large claims: qualified entities, assignment models, litigation funding and how costs and recoveries are shared.
Intake
Reports are logged, checked against the material you provide and grouped with any related accounts already on file.