Fashion Nova owes customers $2.4 million after hiding negative reviews, feds say
Fashion Nova blocked negative reviews from appearing on its website, federal authorities said. Now, the fast-fashion retailer owes nearly $2.4 million in refunds.
The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 28, said it’s sending checks and PayPal payments to more than 148,000 customers who filed a claim after shopping with the California-based company.
Recipients are encouraged to cash their checks within 90 days or redeem PayPal payments within 30 days, the commission said.
In March 2022, Fashion Nova agreed to pay $4.2 million to settle accusations that it tried hiding negative customer reviews, blocking those with “ratings lower than four stars out of five,” the FTC said.
The retailer, which bills itself “the world’s leading quick-to-market apparel” brand, was also ordered to pay back customers duped by its “deceptive review practices,” according to the commission.
Officials didn’t disclose the refund amounts.
“Deceptive review practices cheat consumers, undercut honest businesses, and pollute online commerce,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said at the time.
“Fashion Nova is being held accountable for these practices, and other firms should take note,” he said.
McClatchy News reached out to Fashion Nova for comment Jan. 30 and was awaiting a response.
Under the terms of the settlement, reviews posted to Fashion Nova’s website must accurately reflect the views of all other buyers who posted product reviews, court documents show. Customer reviews must appear regardless of their rating and remain unedited, the feds said.
The FTC didn’t say when customers should expect to receive their refunds.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Fashion Nova owes customers $2.4 million after hiding negative reviews, feds say."