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Verizon to pay customers back for 'mystery' fees [Tulsa World, Okla.](Tulsa World (OK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 30--Some Verizon Wireless customers will be receiving refunds soon for "mystery" data fees, according a nearly $78 million settlement between the company and the government. Verizon has begun notifying customers who it has determined are due refunds, which range from $2 to $6. The company will use credits for current customers and mail checks to former clients. The refunds will go to about one out of every six customers, or 15 million total, Verizon said. The company identified those clients in an internal investigation. Customers of any carrier who believe they have an incorrect charge can complain to the Federal Communications Commission. To do so, visit tulsaworld.com/fccbillingcomplaints and fill out "Form 2000B -- Billing, Privacy or Service Quality Complaint." It includes further information on submitting the form online, by e-mail, fax or postal mail. Verizon customers who do not receive a credit, but believe they have had "mystery fees" on their bills, should use this remedy. The refunds stem from a consent decree announced Wednesday in which Verizon agreed to pay $25 million in FCC fines and investigation expenses and $52.8 million in refunds and credits to stop the agency's investigation of alleged Communications Act violations. Since November 2007, Verizon customers had complained it was charging them $1.99 for each megabyte of data usage -- even if program-applications were used only once or only one ring-tone was downloaded. Essentially, anything customers do with their smart phones, besides make voice calls, uses megabytes of data, says the FCC website. Verizon charged for downloading and using most phone applications, games and programs; using mobile web browsers to view web pages on smart phones; or browsing for applications, games or anything else under "Get it Now." In the past, customers could browse for free, but in 2007 Verizon began charging customers who were "just looking." Now customers pay to download lists of applications, to download applications, to use applications and to download items from applications. The FCC Enforcement Bureau's investigation sought to uncover potential violations of Section 201(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 which prohibits "common carriers from engaging in unjust and unreasonable practices" or of "FCC's truth-in-billing rules." It is unknown how many of the 15 million Verizon customers were Oklahoma residents, since calls by the Tulsa World to the FCC in Washington, D.C., were not returned. The national Better Business Bureau system has logged complaints but had no breakdown by state. Rick Brinkley, president and CEO of the Tulsa Better Business Bureau, said, "We really don't have a lot of official complaints on this, which is part of the problem. These 'accidental billings' were for $2 to $6 and most consumers didn't realize they'd received additional billings. But multiply those small amounts over millions of customers' bills and arrive at the $52.8 million worth of overcharges and the $25 million in fines." Phil Mulkins 699-8888 [email protected] To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |