Brits with iCloud may be in line for a payout after £3,000,000,000 lawsuit

Brits who use iCloud on their Apple devices listen up, as you could be in line for a payout following a major £3 billion lawsuit.

Consumer advice service Which? confirmed today (14 November) they had filed the claim on behalf of the nation stating the US tech giant, with the user eligible for an average payout of around £70 if the suit is successful.

The claim has been raised on behalf of UK consumers by Which? (WANG GANG / Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

What is the £3 billion lawsuit about?

In the claim, Which? states that UK users of iPhones and iPads have no choice but to use Apple's storage facility on their devices.

iCloud comes installed on every Apple device, with each consumer receiving 5GB of storage free for each customer. However, should you need any more storage, you're charged anywhere from 99p to £54.99 a month, depending on how much extra space you need.

Which's argument follows the idea that users don't typically factor in the extra costs when they begin to store photos on the cloud and then feel 'locked-in' to the service.

The claim also argued that customers weren't offered a choice of other storage providers.

What has Apple said about the claim?

Apple has since rejected the claim, stating the company provides its customers with choice.

"Our users are not required to use iCloud, and many rely on a wide range of third-party alternatives for data storage," a spokesperson for Apple said, via Metro.

"Our users are not required to use iCloud, and many rely on a wide range of third-party alternatives for data storage."

The statement added: "In addition, we work hard to make data transfer as easy as possible – whether it is to iCloud or another service.

"We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will rigorously defend against any legal claim otherwise."

The lawsuit claims that Apple don't offer consumers a choice when it comes to storage (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Am I eligible to be included in the claim?

According to the report, Which? is seeking compensation on behalf of anyone who has used iCloud services either on or after 1 October 2015.

Customers who are eligible to be included in the claim who live in the UK will automatically be included into the claim - more information is available here.

"By bringing this claim, Which? is showing big corporations like Apple that they cannot rip off UK consumers without facing repercussions," the body's chief executive Anabel Hoult said in a statement on the lawsuit.

"Taking this legal action means we can help consumers to get the redress that they are owed, deter similar behaviour in the future and create a better, more competitive market."

LADbible has contacted Apple for comment.