Audible Class Action Lawsuit Over Expiring Credits, Were You Affected? Here Is What Is Happening

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against official court records and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington docket on May 4, 2026. Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Audible Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington alleging the Amazon-owned audiobook platform sells membership credits that expire after one year in violation of Washington’s gift certificate law, affecting millions of subscribers nationwide. California resident Jonathon Hollis filed the case in December 2024, seeking to represent a nationwide class of consumers who bought Audible credits that later expired. A federal judge refused to dismiss the case in September 2025, and it is now moving toward class certification. If you ever lost Audible credits before you could use them, this lawsuit may directly involve you.

Quick-Facts Table

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	December 4, 2024
Defendant	Audible Inc. (Delaware corporation, Amazon subsidiary)
Alleged Violation	Washington Gift Certificate Law (RCW §19.240.020); Washington Consumer Protection Act
Who Is Affected	Nationwide Audible subscribers who paid for credits that expired
Current Court Stage	Motion to dismiss denied September 19, 2025 — proceeding toward class certification
Court & Jurisdiction	U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Lead Law Firm	Dovel & Luner LLP (Jonas Jacobson, Gabriel Doble)
Next Hearing Date	TBD — pending class certification schedule
Official Case Website	TBD — no official case website established yet
Last Updated	May 4, 2026

What Is the Audible Lawsuit About? Hollis v. Audible Inc., No. 2:24-cv-01999

Audible sells monthly membership plans that give subscribers credits — one or two per month depending on the tier — redeemable for any audiobook in Audible’s catalog. Members of the Audible Premium Plus $14.95-per-month plan receive one credit per month, while Audible Premium Plus $22.95-per-month plan members receive two credits per month. Audible markets these credits by telling subscribers the titles they buy are “good for any title in our premium selection, yours to keep forever.” The problem? unused credits expire after a year if not used, and while Audible mentions this policy in its help files, it does not actively advertise it, leading some customers to lose their credits unknowingly.

The complaint brings claims under quasi contract, the Washington Consumer Protection Act, and Washington’s Gift Certificate Law. The core legal argument is that Audible credits — which consumers can purchase and redeem for audiobooks and other audio titles — do not meet any of the statute’s limited exceptions that would allow them to expire. In other words, the plaintiff argues these credits function just like gift certificates, and Washington state law (RCW §19.240.020) flatly prohibits gift certificates from carrying expiration dates.

U.S. District Judge Tana Lin denied Audible’s motion to dismiss on September 19, finding the plaintiff had adequately alleged that the Amazon-owned audiobook giant violated Washington’s prohibition on gift certificate expiration dates. That ruling is significant — it means the court found the legal theory solid enough to proceed. The case now moves to the class certification stage, where the judge will decide whether it can formally represent all affected Audible subscribers. This is the kind of consumer rights lawsuit that, if it reaches a settlement, could benefit millions of people who never even knew they had a legal claim. If you want to understand how similar cases unfold, read our guide to how consumer class action lawsuits work and what class members can typically expect.

Are You Part of the Audible Class Action Lawsuit?

Here is how to know if this lawsuit includes you. The proposed class covers a broad group — not just people in Washington state.

You may be part of this class if:

• You purchased an Audible Premium Plus membership (monthly or annual plan) at any point within the applicable statute of limitations
• You received credits through your membership that expired before you could redeem them for an audiobook or audio title
• You paid for your membership — meaning the credits were not gifted or provided through a free trial
• You are a U.S. resident (the proposed class includes citizens of every state)

You are likely NOT included if:

• You used all of your Audible credits before they expired
• Your credits were part of a free promotional offer with no paid membership component
• You are only affected by a separate Audible lawsuit, such as the unauthorized enrollment case filed in New Jersey

The plaintiff says that over the past six years, he paid for multiple credits via his Audible membership that expired before he could use them, and as a result lost the value of those credits. If that experience sounds familiar, you may be part of the class the lawsuit seeks to represent. No formal class has been certified yet, so no action is required from you right now. Your job at this stage is simply to know that this case exists — and to save any records you have.

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If you have also been enrolled in Audible without your consent, that is a separate case. A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against Audible alleging the company enrolled Amazon customers in memberships by using their personal information and payment methods already on file with Amazon without the customers directly providing any information to Audible. That case — Sherk v. Audible Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-01797 — is in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is not the same lawsuit discussed in this article.

What Are Audible Plaintiffs Seeking in This Lawsuit?

This is not a payout article — no settlement exists and no claim form is open. But the complaint makes clear what the plaintiff wants the court to order. The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of all available forms of recovery, including damages, restitution, and other equitable relief.

In plain English, here is what that means. The plaintiff wants Audible to stop expiring credits entirely, going forward. He also wants refunds — or at minimum restitution — for every subscriber who lost credit value due to the expiration policy. The lawsuit puts the amount in controversy at more than $5,000,000, which is the threshold needed for the federal court to take jurisdiction over a nationwide class action under the Class Action Fairness Act (28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2)).

The plaintiff also faces an imminent threat of future harm — he would purchase Audible credits in the future if he was sure the credits would not expire, but without an injunction he cannot depend on Audible honoring its credits without expiration dates, as required under Washington law. That argument — that the harm is ongoing, not just historical — helped the case survive Audible’s motion to dismiss and strengthens the plaintiff’s case for injunctive relief. Understanding your rights in cases like this is exactly what a class action lawsuit attorney can walk you through if you believe you have experienced the same harm.

What Should You Do If You Were Affected by Audible?

You do not need to hire a lawyer or file anything right now. Most class members in cases like this are automatically included if the class gets certified — which means the court’s process will work on your behalf without you taking any immediate action. Here is what you should do in the meantime:

1. Save your Audible account records. Log into your account and document your membership history, the credits you received each month, and any credits that expired. Screenshots work fine.
2. Check your billing history. Identify the months where credits expired without use. Your payment records and Audible’s credit history page are the right places to look.
3. Do not cancel your account just to preserve a claim. Canceling will not help or hurt your inclusion in the class.
4. Monitor the court docket for updates. The case is Hollis v. Audible Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-01999. Updates will appear on the PACER federal court system at pacer.gov.
5. If you want to pursue individual legal action, consult a consumer rights lawyer. Most handle these consultations at no cost through a free legal consultation, and they can advise whether an individual claim might be more valuable than waiting for a class recovery.

Do not let the legal process scare you. The plaintiffs’ lawyers at Dovel & Luner LLP are doing the heavy lifting. Your role right now is to stay informed and keep your records intact. For context on how similar subscription-based cases have played out, see our breakdown of the Venmo lawsuit and what affected users can do right now.

Audible Class Action Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	December 4, 2024
Audible Motion to Dismiss Filed	January 24, 2025
Motion to Dismiss Denied	September 19, 2025
Class Certification Motion	TBD — not yet scheduled as of May 4, 2026
Next Scheduled Hearing	TBD — pending court scheduling order
Expected Settlement Timeline	TBD — litigation is in early stages; class certification must occur first before any settlement negotiations are typical

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Audible over expiring credits?

 Yes. A Washington federal judge denied Audible’s motion to dismiss, allowing the proposed class action lawsuit to continue. The case is Hollis v. Audible Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-01999, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The lawsuit is now proceeding toward class certification.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included?

 No. Class members are typically included automatically if the court certifies the class. You do not need to register, contact anyone, or file any form at this stage. Your best move right now is to save records of expired credits and monitor the case docket for future developments.

When will a settlement be reached in the Audible case?

 TBD — there is no settlement yet, and it would be premature to predict one. Class certification must happen first, then discovery, and then settlement talks typically follow. Cases like this often take two to four years from filing to resolution. The lawsuit was filed in December 2024, so a settlement could realistically emerge no earlier than 2026 or 2027.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Audible instead of joining the class action? 

Yes. Any individual who believes they suffered harm from Audible’s credit expiration policy can consult a class action lawsuit attorney about filing an independent claim. If you opt out of the class action once it is certified, you preserve your right to pursue individual litigation. Most attorneys in consumer cases work on contingency — no upfront cost to you.

How will I know if the Audible lawsuit settles?

 If a settlement is reached and approved, the settlement administrator will send notice to class members by email or mail. You can also monitor the PACER docket for case filings at pacer.gov or check back here for updates. Sign up for court alerts if you want real-time notification of new filings.

Am I affected if I live outside Washington state? 

Yes. The proposed class includes citizens of every state — not just Washington residents. The lawsuit invokes Washington law because Audible itself selected Washington law to govern its membership agreements.

What law does the Audible lawsuit claim was violated?

 The complaint alleges violations of Washington’s Gift Certificate Law (RCW §19.240.020) and the Washington Consumer Protection Act. The court found that the vouchers do not have to be backed by a specific cash value to be covered by Washington’s gift card law — which is exactly why the judge refused to dismiss the case.

Sources & References

• Court Filing — Hollis v. Audible Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-01999, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington: PACER Docket
• Order Denying Motion to Dismiss, dated September 19, 2025: Courthouse News / Court PDF
• Law360 — “Judge Lets Suit Over Audible’s Expiring Credits Move Forward,” September 22, 2025: law360.com

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.