Well, you might have heard of it in the headlines that Verizon Wireless, one of the leading mobile carriers in the U.S., was caught kinda red-handed when it came to sneaky extra fees included in the customer bills, right? And sure enough, the charges, classified as “administrative fees,” apparently were not that visible and noticeable at the time customers enrolled in phone plans, you know? So yes, the next thing we knew, all this added up to massive litigious karate. The case concerned fees charged from January 2016 till November 2023. Spoiler alert: Verizon had to pay a hefty settlement to make things “right.” Let’s just go over this Verizon Wireless Class Action Lawsuit and see what is really going on about it all.
So, What Did Verizon Actually Do?
Here’s the thing, though: every month, the extra surcharges Verizon had been placing on customers’ bills weren’t really fees listed under the glitzy price for which customers believed they had signed up, and that’s what this case is all about. “What is this charge?” You could open your bill one month and say it. That’s what happened to many people. Of course, Verizon denied any shadiness in this act, saying that all those fees were spelled out somewhere in some fine print. But, let’s face it-who actually reads those little paragraphs in a contract? Like, who actually? And sure enough, to avoid a much bigger legal tangle, Verizon decided to settle. No big courtroom drama here, but the payout is pretty big news.
The $100 Million Settlement, Really?
Now, what’s the benefit to customers? Well, sure enough, Verizon had agreed to pay $100 million in compensation for such charges. If you’re thinking about how it all works, well, if you had a Verizon plan from 2016 to 2023 and paid these fees, you are likely to be eligible for this compensation. Here is how that goes: you will be getting $15 just for being part of the settlement and an additional $1 for every month you suffered these fees. Alright, then what’s the most someone could claim? A nice tidy sum of $100. Not going to change one’s life, but better than nothing, no two ways about that.
When Will People Get Paid?
If so, you are eligible and have already filed your claim, money will be coming soon. Eventually, one day! Like, just so you know though, disbursements kick off January 2025 for those who made their deadline of April 15, 2024. Missed it? Too bad, no cash for you. The same goes for that person who was unable to prove that either fees were paid or not eligible for payment. All in all, just keep one thing in mind: either you will receive a direct deposit, or it will come via good old-fashioned mail in a check.
Key Dates to Keep in Mind
Sure enough, there was a tight timeline on this one. Like, should you be interested, claims had to be filed before April 15, 2024. By that date, you could have opted out by February 20, 2024, if you wished not to be part of the deal, you know? And just so you know, now, the final hearing for everything took place on March 22, 2024, and from then, it was all systems go for payout processing. Missed the boat? Unfortunately, there’s no way to go back, and you also waived your right to sue Verizon about this long down the line.
Why Should You Care?
Without a single doubt, this is a huge wake-up call for anyone who ever scammed the fine print of telephone plans or, more honestly, avoided it altogether. It’s a reminder that extra charges can find their way into your bills if not on full alert, and that’s what’s happening here. Like, while Verizon says it’s settled, they say they did nothing wrong and will continue with those charges. In short, this is your responsibility to watch out for your bills.