The Dutch Consumer Competition Claims Foundation (CCC) and the Consumers' Association are launching a class action lawsuit against Booking.
They want Booking.com to stop abusing its power, restricting competition, and misleading consumers. They are also asking Booking.com to compensate consumers. Consumers can register their claim immediately.
Updated on:July 1, 2025
Artificially high prices
Bert Heikens, chairman of the CCC: "Consumers have been paying too much for their hotel rooms for years. We've conducted an investigation, and it shows that Booking.com has been violating competition rules and consumer law since January 2013. Through illegal agreements and practices, Booking.com prevents hotels from offering lower prices and better conditions. Several European regulators have also already determined that Booking.com is acting unlawfully."
Fake discounts, incomplete prices, fabricated scarcity
Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers' Association: "We demonstrated in 2024 that Booking.com is guilty of misleading practices. For example, the platform uses fake discounts, incomplete prices, and fabricated scarcity. With these kinds of 'dark patterns,' Booking.com influences consumer choices. And that's not permitted under Dutch and European regulations."
To register
All consumers who have booked a hotel room at least once through Booking.com since January 1, 2013, have suffered damages. They can file a claim. This also applies to consumers who booked through other online hotel booking websites, such as Agoda and Expedia, or through a hotel's own website. These consumers are also victims of Booking.com's unlawful conduct.
Total damage: hundreds of millions
The damage suffered varies for each consumer, depending on the number of bookings, room rates, and destinations. Damage can range from tens to hundreds of euros per consumer. In total, the damage for all Dutch citizens amounts to hundreds of millions of euros.
No cure no pay
CCC is leading the action against Booking.com. The Consumers' Association supports CCC and is gathering and registering consumers who want to participate in the Booking Claim. Members and non-members of the Consumers' Association can register for the claim via the Consumers' Association website. Participation in the claim is on a "no cure, no pay" basis. If successful, consumers contribute a maximum of 25% of the result achieved.
This amount does not go to the Consumers' Association or CCC (an independent non-profit foundation), but to the litigation funder. For more information, see the frequently asked questions at the bottom of the claim page , under "If I don't have to pay the costs, who will?"
Update: registrations
As of July 1, more than 130,000 consumers have already registered. Consumers can still register.
Babs van der Staak, Spokesman