March 19, 2024
T-Mobile to Pay $90 Million to Settle FCC Investigation Over Unauthorized Third-Party Charges

T-Mobile to Pay $90 Million to Settle FCC Investigation Over Unauthorized Third-Party Charges

Posted December 19, 2014 at 9:14pm by iClarified
T-Mobile has agreed to pay at least $90 million to settle a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation into allegations that it billed customers millions of dollars in unauthorized third party subscriptions and premium text messaging services.

“Today’s enforcement action demonstrates the Commission’s continuing commitment to work with our federal and state counterparts to protect consumers,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “When consumers are harmed by carriers’ unscrupulous business practices, we will marshal our collective resources to seek accountability and obtain positive reforms. We are pleased to have partnered once again with the FTC and the attorneys general for all 50 states and the District of Columbia on a settlement that will bring meaningful relief to millions of consumers.”

“Yet again we are faced with a phone company that profited while its customers were fleeced by third parties who placed unauthorized charges on their phone bills,” said Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. “And once again the FCC is standing up for those customers. Today’s settlement holds T-Mobile responsible for its billing practices and puts money directly back into the pockets of American consumers.”


The Enforcement Bureau launched its investigation after receiving consumer complaints alleging that T-Mobile customers were billed for unauthorized charges for subscriptions to third-party services that they did not request or authorize. These subscription charges were typically $9.99 per month. As T-Mobile customers inquired and learned about the third-party charges T-Mobile assessed on their bills, many complained that they did not authorize such charges, and sought refunds. In some instances, T-Mobile provided refunds, but there were numerous customers who were billed for unauthorized third-party charges and were not compensated.

Under the terms of the agreement the FCC announced today, T-Mobile has agreed to a $90 million settlement, including a minimum of $67.5 million to fund and operate a consumer redress program that will give refunds to victims of its unlawful cramming activities; if consumer claims exceed this amount, T-Mobile will continue to pay them. In addition, T-Mobile will pay $18 million to state governments participating in the settlement, and will make a $4.5 million penalty payment to the U.S. Treasury. The settlement was negotiated in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The FCC is also requiring T-Mobile to stop offering commercial third-party "premium SMS" charges, adopt processes to obtain express informed consent from customers prior to allowing third-party charges on their phone bills, revise their billing practices to ensure that third-party charges are clearly and conspicuously identified on bills so that customers can see what services they are paying for, and offer a free service for customers to block all third-party charges.

In October 2014, the FCC obtained a similar settlement from AT&T Mobility, who paid $105 million to resolve an investigation into unauthorized third-party subscriptions and premium text messaging.



T-Mobile to Pay $90 Million to Settle FCC Investigation Over Unauthorized Third-Party Charges
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Comments (6)
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TPC
TPC - December 22, 2014 at 4:42pm
Tears with joy. First time US jury or related party did something in favor of consumers. They usually support apple to loot customers
mr. humann
mr. humann - December 21, 2014 at 2:56am
yay. this sort of thing is a rare bright spot from the gov we all (muricans I mean) pay for.
iProService
iProService - December 20, 2014 at 10:50am
Uncarrier
Luciano
Luciano - December 20, 2014 at 12:58am
I remember that.. Iv gotten a bills for text message back in in 2010 I believe . They said those text message ms where from England , South Africa they were sent around 4am.. I said there is no way I sent those messages .. I remember they cost $1.49 or $.099 a it was insane .. I cancelled my service I hate T-mobile .. so AmI eligible for some $$ back
gamerscul9870
gamerscul9870 - December 19, 2014 at 10:19pm
Must be overage bugs or some employees didn't get.
stevenlacross
stevenlacross - December 19, 2014 at 9:24pm
iClarified just updated its app to fix video rotation issues. it's about damn time
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