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Short summary
Anthropic’s Claude subscription products have faced consumer concerns regarding the presentation of Max usage allowances and unauthorised gift-subscription charges. Independent reporting has covered a proposed class-action lawsuit concerning the Max 5x and Max 20x plans and multiple consumers reporting gift subscriptions charged to their cards without authorisation.[1][2]
These matters concern different circumstances and this article does not assert that they had the same technical cause.
Background
Anthropic offers Claude subscriptions for individual consumers through its Pro and Max plans. Anthropic lists Pro at US$20 per month, Max 5x at US$100 per month and Max 20x at US$200 per month.[3]
Anthropic describes Max 5x as providing five times more usage per session than Pro and Max 20x as providing twenty times more usage per session. Max plans also have weekly usage limits, and Anthropic states that it may apply other weekly, monthly, model or feature limits.[4]
Consumer protection concerns
Max plan usage allowances
In June 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status had been filed against Anthropic concerning its Max 5x and Max 20x plans.[1]
The complaint alleged that Anthropic marketed the plans as providing five and twenty times the usage of the Pro plan, but supplied substantially less usage than consumers would reasonably understand from those descriptions.
The lawsuit sought reimbursement for affected subscribers and a declaration concerning Anthropic’s marketing. These were allegations contained in a legal complaint and had not been established by a court at the time of reporting. Anthropic declined to comment to the publication.[1]
Unauthorised Claude gift-subscription charges
In May 2026, The Guardian reported that several consumers had identified Claude gift-subscription charges that they said they had not authorised.[2]
One affected consumer reported two US$200 charges, while other reported examples included ten £18 payments, three €216 charges and separate €225 payments. The publication reported that computer-generated responses from Anthropic did not initially explain what had happened to one affected consumer.[2]
Anthropic told The Guardian that it had found no evidence that compromised card details originated from Anthropic. The company stated that it was introducing additional protections, suspending accounts associated with identified misuse and cancelling and refunding fraudulent purchases.[2]
Support and refund process
Anthropic’s support documentation states that Pro and Max subscribers can use Fin, its AI support bot, and may receive further assistance from its Product Support team. Anthropic does not offer telephone or live-chat support.[5]
Anthropic states that payments are generally non-refundable except where its terms or applicable law provide otherwise. Its refund guidance states that customers in the United Kingdom and European Economic Area may receive a prorated refund within 14 days of purchase.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Torry, Harriet (15 June 2026). "Anthropic Sued Over Limits on Its $200-a-Month AI Plans". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hickey, Shane (3 May 2026). "AI chatbot fraud: the 'gift card' subcription that may cost you dear". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "Choose a Claude plan". Claude Help Center. Anthropic. 19 May 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "What is the Max plan?". Claude Help Center. Anthropic. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "How to get support". Claude Help Center. Anthropic. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "Requesting a refund for a paid Claude plan". Claude Help Center. Anthropic. Retrieved 19 July 2026.