Verizon, Alltel to Refund Unwanted Charges in Florida

According to report by the Associated Press, Verizon and Alltel have agreed to refund an estimated $30 million to Florida cell phone customers billed for ringtones and other features that people did not order or did not know would add monthly fees from $9.99 to $49.99.

The charges can mysteriously appear with indiscernible names such as "OpenMarket," and "M-Blox." Those hidden charges were imposed on customers for several years, Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday in announcing a settlement between his office and the cell phone provider.

Attorney General Bill McCollum announced the settlement Wednesday. Verizon will refund an estimated $24 million. The estimate for Alltel is $6 million. Verizon is acquiring Alltel.

Current customers will receive credits for the overcharges, and former customers can obtain refunds. But they have to ask for the money, and Verizon will notify former customers if their e-mail addresses are still on file with the company.

The companies also are taking steps nationally to prevent such practices and will pay the state $1.5 million. That's for investigation expenses and seeking similar reform across the industry. A New York settlement last year resulted in refunds for AT&T customers across the nation, reported AP.

(June 22, 2009)

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