This week’s story is the proverbial good news/bad news.
The bad news is Verizon Wireless has possibly charged millions of dollars to customers for problematic “data usage” charges.
If your cell phone carrier is Verizon, check bill ASAP!
The good news?
Verizon Wireless, one of the nation’s largest cell phone company with 84 million customers “owned up” to possible consumer billing errors. They stated publicly they are committed to give deserving customers retroactive refunds which could range from a few dollars to more than $100 per phone line.
So, this week your job (should you choose to accept it!) is to pull out your old Verizon Wireless statements and search for charges (usually $1.99) for “data usage.” Consumer’s also report billing errors in the amount of $9.99 for “premium text message charges” – a service that requires a “double opt-in” for consumer agreement to the charge!
The information (or sadly for some, misinformation) will be located on the first page of your monthly statement, “Quick Bill Summary”, “Usage Charges, Data”. If you discover these charges and you know you have NOT used your cell phone to go online, or the charges were made when your phone was off or batteries dead, or internet access on your phone is blocked or not available, then run to your nearest Verizon Wireless store (or call Customer Service 800-922-0204) and ask for a refund.
Now this is sad but a reader told The Plain Dealer, a Cincinnati Ohio business newspaper that “his mom’s phone was charged for Internet access – weeks after the mother had died and her phone sat idle in her empty home.” Equally sad is we have become so jaded as consumers that we are surprised that a corporate giant has said “yep, we messed up” and remain skeptical that restitution will actually be carried out. Verizon reports to The Plain Dealer that they will increase worker training, modify policies to reduce Internet charges incurred through simply hitting the wrong buttons or keys and to ensure consumers are not charged for internet time if the default home page for your phone is Verizon’s Web page (that’s nice of them!).
Remember, one of the best ways to reduce unexpected or unnecessary costs related to your cell phone is to literally block services requiring additional fees beyond the basic plan. These services include
- Application downloads
- Premium texting
- Web access
- V-Cast music
- Mobile TV
- Text-messaging
And, while we’re at it, let’s remember to check all telecommunication bills for that great scam and rip-off, cramming! When you are charged for services you don’t use, don’t even know what they are, international calls, or services that you didn’t order, agree to or us – that’s cramming! Most often, the unauthorized charges are small (say $2 or $3) and easy to overlook because they are labeled as generic sounding services that may – or may not – be actual services. The FTC reminds us to check sections of our bills labeled as “miscellaneous”, “third party” charges and of course long-distance charges.
If you suspect cramming, ring up your phone company, ask about the charges and dispute the errors on the bill (if appropriate of course!). Take action, watch our Scam Alerts, Start With Trust® - and these days - regardless of the type of bill you receive, pay attention to detail and question anything that just doesn’t “ring true”!
Talk soon - Angie
