A Verizon refund of $50 million to 15 million Verizon customers was announced Sunday. Verizon finally acknowledged years of complaints the wireless carrier consistently hit customers with fees for services they hadn’t requested. Following a 10-month examination of Verizon wireless phantom fees, the Federal Communications Commission said that how and why the business stonewalled its customers and avoided reimbursing them had yet to be determined.
Verizon refunds phantom charges cash
The Verizon refund is the result of a Federal Communications Commission study that determined customers were erroneously billed in two ways. According to the Los Angeles Times, most were billed a $1.99 monthly fee for data service they did not order. Most of it started with a free demo of an app. The fee came after trying it out. Others were dinged for accessing the internet by hitting a button by mistake and then cancelling instantly. Oct and November are the months that Verizon wireless customers will find out if they get to have a refund. Most people will get just a small reimburse. It will be between $2 and $4. If the person is nevertheless a customer, it will just be a credit on the account. Checks can be sent to any person that has left Verizon.
Federal Communications Commission makes Verizon wireless answer
The Verizon refund story began in 2009 when the newest York Times and other news organizations reported that customers had complained about the fees however were being ignored by Verizon wireless. Verizon wireless said that accidental use and free demos had nothing to do with billing the customers, reports the Times. January was when the FCC decided to launch an exploration. It started in January. Verizon wireless and also the Federal Communications Commission are fighting about how long these additional fees have been going on. Verizon has agreed to a “consent decree.” This is what happens when a business drops the case and pays a fee. Michele Ellison thinks that getting customers their cash back is the first priority. Ellison is the chief of the FCC enforcement bureau. Making sure it does not happen again is next.
Customers get protection with bill-shock regulation
Verizon and other wireless carriers are scheming for brand new revenue streams in the weak economy as higher monthly service fees and increasing contract cancellation penalties are making United States of America consumers keep old cell phones longer. The Washington Post reports the Federal Communications Commission is launching an initiative to protect consumers from surprise fees. Consumers may like the brand new “bill-shock” regulation. It makes it so companies are required to text customers if there is going to be an increase in any of the charges. The FCC’s October meetings are sure to have lots of bill-shock regulation discussed which the Wireless Association is intending to get it stopped.
Citations
Los Angeles times
latimes.com/business/la-fi-1004-verizon-20101004,,2549947.story
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/10/04/technology/04webphone.html?_r=1 and ref=business
Washington Post
voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/10/verizon_wireless_amits_wrongly.html
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