Troubleshooter: North Carolina customers will get part of $80 million from AT&T
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said Wednesday 713,000 North Carolina customers will share in a $80 million national settlement with AT&T over unauthorized third-party charges on cell phone bills.
"These hidden charges confuse and frustrate consumers," Cooper said. "Phone bills should be clear and easy to read so you can get accurate information about what you owe and what you're paying for."
Cooper said his office got complaints about cramming on mobile phone bills typically involving a $9.99 per month fee for premium text message subscription services (also known as "PSMS" subscriptions) such as horoscopes, trivia, and sports scores, that consumers have never heard of or requested.
AT&T Mobility is the first mobile telephone provider to enter into national settlement to resolve allegations regarding cramming. Investigations and negotiations involving Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are ongoing. All four major mobile carriers announced last fall that they would cease billing their customers for commercial PSMS charges.
Beginning Wednesday, consumers can submit claims under the AT&T Mobility cramming refund program by visiting http://www.ftc.gov/att. AT&T customers eligible for refunds should be notified by the company. If consumers are unsure about whether they are eligible for a refund, they can visit the claims website or contact the Claims Administrator at 1-877-819-9692 for more information.
