In 2024, Verizon Wireless agreed to settle a lawsuit for $100 million. The case accused the company of misleading advertising by not clearly informing customers about extra fees, like administrative charges. Because of this, the actual price of their plans was higher than what was shown in the ads.
The lawsuit claimed that hiding these fees made Verizon’s plans look cheaper than they really were, leading customers to choose plans that cost more than expected. This was seen as unfair and misleading since the advertised prices didn’t match what people actually had to pay. The case likely involved consumer protection laws, such as those from the Federal Trade Commission, which ensure that advertising is clear and honest.
Verizon Class Action Settlement Details
Verizon has agreed to pay $100 million to eligible customers as part of the settlement. This money is meant to refund customers who were unfairly charged administrative fees. Here’s how the payments will work:
- Basic Payment: Each approved claim will get a fixed amount of $15.
- Extra Bonus: Customers will also get $1 for every month they were charged the fee, with a maximum bonus of $85.
The most any customer can receive is $100. The final amount will depend on how many claims are submitted and how long the fees were charged to each customer.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the settlement, customers must have had a Verizon postpaid wireless or data plan between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023. They must have been charged the disputed administrative or telecom recovery fees during this time.
Verizon Class Action Settlement Payout Dates
After the settlement is fully approved, eligible customers will receive their payments either by check or electronic transfer.
If a check is not cashed or cannot be delivered, the money will be treated as unclaimed property belonging to the customer. This will follow the rules for unclaimed property in each state, and any extra administrative costs will be taken from the unclaimed funds fairly.
The settlement officially took effect on September 20, 2024, after the last appeal was withdrawn. Payments are expected to start being sent out in early January or February 2025.
In case you missed: How to Make a Claim Under The Settlement?
The deadline to file a claim for the Verizon settlement has already passed, so no new claims can be made. Here’s how eligible customers could have filed a claim before the deadline:
- Visit the official settlement website to check if you were eligible and access the claim form.
- Download the form or request it from the settlement administrator.
- Fill out the form with your details, such as your name, contact information, and account details.
- Attach proof of the charges, like billing statements or receipts.
- Submit the form online or by mail before the deadline.
After submission, claimants would get a confirmation and updates on the process, including any further steps required.
If you didn’t submit your claim on time, you won’t receive any payment, even if you were eligible. Simply being eligible wasn’t enough—completing the required paperwork was essential.
If you’re waiting for the settlement payments, you can join discussions on Reddit to share experiences and hear from others in threads like Thread 1 or Thread 2.
