UOKiK Fines Resume Creator Interviewme.pl Over Deceptive Subscription Practices

Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection has imposed a 760,000 PLN fine on Bold LLC, the operator of Interviewme.pl, for trapping users into costly, undisclosed recurring subscription plans.

The Hidden Cost Trap

Internet users often fall victim to surprise charges when online services lure them into a document creation process only to demand payment at the final stage. In the case of Interviewme.pl, a one-time service fee was surreptitiously converted into an automatic, recurring subscription charged directly to the user’s card without clear prior consent.

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) identified this as a clear violation of consumer rights. While the company has been fined over 760,000 PLN, the decision is not yet final, as the firm has formally appealed the ruling in court.

Transparent Communication is Mandatory

Legal experts emphasize that the subscription model itself is not the problem; the issue lies in a lack of transparency. When users are unaware they are entering into an automatically renewing contract, the business model shifts from a legitimate service to a deceptive practice.

According to attorney Kinga Konopelko, subscription terms must be explicitly communicated before the user is committed to a purchase. Withholding critical information until the final stage of a transaction misuses the consumer’s time and effort to force an unwanted financial commitment.

Legal Requirements for Digital Business

Regulatory authorities examine the entire user experience, including button labels, price lists, and the ease of cancelling a service. Simply burying terms in a lengthy document is no longer sufficient to protect a company from legal repercussions.

Business owners must ensure that the average user understands whether a payment is one-time or recurring before they click the final button. This standard applies across the board, from AI-driven platforms and mobile apps to e-learning sites and subscription-based retail.

Responsibility Beyond Third-Party Tools

Many smaller businesses mistakenly believe that using a standard payment processor or a pre-made sales platform shields them from legal liability. However, the responsibility for clear communication remains entirely with the entrepreneur.

Whether a company sells digital documents or physical goods, they are responsible for how they describe services and manage cancellations. A well-designed, transparent system is essential to avoid both damaging regulatory fines and significant reputational crises.