Are You Being “Crammed” By Your Phone Provider?

If you are anything like me, when you get your mobile phone bill, whether it be paper copy, or online, maybe you glance at it quickly and then proceed to just pay it without thinking too much about it. 

Well, apparently AT&T is responsible for what they are calling “mobile cramming”, alleging that the second largest wireless carrier, allowed unauthorized third party charges to be added to customer bills.  Charges such as premium text messaging, or PSMS services.

Most of us overlook these charges as standard with our bill, but maybe you want to take a moment to look a little closer and determine if you are being charged for something that you have never asked for or subscribed to.

Such services include horoscopes, trivia and sports scores customers did not request or knowingly authorize.  In the past, such charges were often disguised on wireless phone bills as something else, such as “data usage.”

Under terms of the settlement, AT&T Mobility will pay $80 million in refunds to cramming victims.  Eligible customers can claim their share by visiting www.ftc.gov/att or contact the claims administrator at 1-877-819-9692 for more information.  The deadline to file a claim is May 1, 2015.

AT&T must also stay out of the commercial PSMS business and take several steps to ensure it only bills customers for authorized third-party charges.