Verizon Wireless Must Reimburse Millions Due To Overcharges
Verizon Wireless has elected to reimburse millions of its subscribers for charges of from two to six dollars that showed up when customers accidentally accessed the Internet on their phone, the telecommunications company has announced.
Apparently, this charge is a mistake and was not contemplated by the company and consumers when signing on to the Verizon plan. The charges accrue by mistake when a user connects the mobile device to the Web. The company could have to reimburse up to $90 million to the customers.
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) had been investigating the charges for some time. It took some time for anyone to notice the charges as said charge does not affect a majority of Verizon’s clients; only those individuals who did not have Web access built into their contract.
The FCC said Monday it still planned to look into the charges, which have been part of an agency investigation for the past ten months.
"For millions of Americans it's a day late and a $1.99 short," said Michele Ellison, chief of the FCC enforcement bureau.
The data charges will be reimbursed through regular phone bills or mailed to those individuals who are no longer with Verizon.
"When we identify errors, we remedy them as quickly as possible," said a representative of Verizon.
