Verizon Customers Eligible for $100M Settlement
In a new turn of events, Verizon’s cell phone clients across the US could track down help as a proposed $100 million class action settlement is on the table, tending to charges of treacherous month-to-month expenses and absence of straightforwardness in Verizon’s remote help plans. Clients engaged with the claim asserted that they wound up paying more than the promoted rates because of undisclosed authoritative charges.
The legal action, based in New Jersey, asserts that U.S. customers subscribing to certain Verizon wireless plans experienced inflated charges, with administrative fees not being adequately disclosed in the company’s advertisements or representations. The lawsuit alleges that Verizon implemented, charged, and increased these fees in a manner deemed deceptive and unfair by the customers.
Verizon Communications, in response to the proposed settlement, has denied any wrongdoing or merit in the lawsuit, according to a notice associated with the settlement. Despite its denial, the company has agreed to amend its customer agreement to enhance the disclosure of administrative charges as part of the resolution.
The administrative charges, initially set at 40 cents per phone line in 2005, have reportedly increased multiple times, reaching $3.30 per line in 2022. Families with multiple lines on their plans faced charges for each line, amplifying the financial impact. The ongoing controversy has sparked discussions on Verizon’s right to continue imposing and increasing administrative charges.
To be eligible for a share in the settlement, customers must have been charged and paid an administrative charge or an administrative and telco recovery charge between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023. Eligible customers are being notified via email or mail and have until April 15 to file a claim online or by mail.
The lawsuit potentially covers up to 50 million customers nationwide, and those who file claims by the deadline may receive up to $100, with the actual amount varying based on their duration as Verizon subscribers and the number of claims filed. While the settlement’s financial impact on Verizon is not expected to be significant, it highlights the common occurrence of class action lawsuits and settlements within the corporate landscape.
As the April 15 deadline approaches, affected customers are encouraged to take the necessary steps to stake their claim in the settlement and ensure they receive their entitled compensation.
