Verizon, Sprint Settle Over Phony Charges
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) - Verizon Wireless and Sprint customers who had unauthorized charges on their bills from premium text messages may be eligible for a refund.
As part of a nationwide settlement with the two mobile giants, Florida is getting more than $1.47 million.
On Tuesday federal regulators announced that Verizon and Sprint agreed to settle charges that they allowed phony charges on their customers' monthly bills so they could keep a cut of the profit. Verizon Wireless will pay $90 million and Sprint $68 million. Most of the money paid by the providers will be used to refund duped consumers.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, consumers who called the carriers to complain were denied a refund. But the carriers were unable to provide proof that the customer had authorized the charges.
Both companies said in statements they had stopped the premium text messaging before the investigation.
The office of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was unable to estimate how many state residents would likely be eligible for refunds.
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