A group of Anthropic Max plan subscribers have filed an expanded class action lawsuit, alleging that the company has duped them with misleading subscription terms. The plaintiffs claim that the company deceptively advertised the limits of its Max subscription tier, promising a five or twenty times increase in usage, only to impose weekly limits that significantly reduce the actual increase. Critics argue that the company’s marketing graphics were misleadingly couched in fine print, making it difficult for users to understand the terms.

Subscribers say they were misled into believing they would get dramatically expanded usage, only to discover that they were not getting the usage they thought they were paying for. The lawsuit, brought by attorneys Monica Vaca and Kati Daffan, who worked at the Federal Trade Commission, highlights the frustration felt by users who, after paying between $100 and $200 per month, found that their usage was limited to five-hour sessions subject to a weekly cap.

The complaint states that users have to click through hyperlinks to understand the “session” limits, which are only available in the Pro plan webpage. One Reddit user described the experience as a “bigger gas tank with a limited fuel pump,” highlighting the disappointment and frustration of paying for higher usage but receiving limited access.

Anthropic argues that the weekly limits were available to users who knew where to look, but critics argue that this isn’t fair. Vaca points out that consumers rely on the claims made by marketers and that there is no easy way for them to audit the terms. She adds that the case is compelling because many users felt they needed to pay high subscription costs to avoid becoming irrelevant in the job market, only to feel they weren’t getting what they paid for.

The lawsuit reflects broader frustration in the AI industry, where customers have complained about cost increases and usage limitations. As pressures to turn a profit increase, AI companies are facing scrutiny over their subscription models and the terms they provide to users.