In a world dominated by misleading marketing and “hidden fees”, the everyday consumer faces a grim reality of unforeseen expenses amid the struggle of daily life. However, justice hardly spares a thought for the large and influential corporations that operate around the world. Reports state that Verizon, one of the United States’ biggest and most profitable telecom companies, is set to pay $100 million in compensation to its customers following a settlement over a class-action lawsuit.
Verizon has strained the supplier-consumer relationship beyond its worst fears
Verizon has been operating in the United States for over 20 years, and in that time has become one of America’s largest and most influential telecoms companies with operations that span the length and breadth of the USA. However, the good times can’t last forever, and Verizon has been entangled in a class action lawsuit over hidden fees.
The lawsuit has exposed not only the unspoken market strategy of hidden fees but the distrust that consumers have for large, unchecked corporations. In the period between 2016 and 2023, Verizon angered customers by adding “administrative” and “telecom recovery” fees that the company vehemently insisted were legitimate operational costs, but customers lamented the fees as they were not clearly disclosed.
The everyday consumer has more power than ever before in today’s world
While Verizon opted to settle without admitting any wrongdoing, this is certainly not the first case of “hidden fees”, although it should be noted as possibly the largest. At a time when the everyday person is more empowered and informed, not to mention more vocal about their rights and what they pay for, other telecoms companies might need to contemplate their fees and policies.
Here’s how to check if you’re eligible for a payout from Verizon
Following the settlement and subsequent start of the payout process, there are several methods that Verizon customers can take to check their eligibility for a payout. Here are a few to consider and the steps to take if you have submitted a claim:
- If you are one of the customers aware of the settlement and have filed a claim by the April 15, 2024, deadline, you can review your email for confirmation from the Verizon Administrative Charges Settlement Administrator. If you indeed have submitted by the deadline, you will have received a confirmation email. It is important to note that without documented proof of confirmation, you likely won’t receive a payout.
- You can visit the official settlement website to obtain an official claim form from Verizon or to verify your claim status.
- Be sure to contact the settlement administrator to confirm whether your claim was successful and when to expect a payment.
- Verizon Customers with postpaid wireless or data plans between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023, qualified if they were charged administrative or telco recovery fees and had submitted a successful claim by the deadline.
It is important to note that the customer is responsible for their own claim and needs to provide accurate and current information to the administrator. Another measure to consider would be to visit the official settlement website through established consumer protection portals to find verified contact information. We advise you to have your claim confirmation number at the ready to accelerate the process.
The settlement has cast a dark cloud over the United States telecoms industry
AT&T and other large American telecoms companies must be watching with keen interest as the case not only affects Verizon but the entire telecoms sector in the United States. Verizon just had the unfortunate luck of being the first telecom company to be sued over hidden fees, and other customers in the US must be checking their bills right now. Verizon is an exceedingly large company and will surely recover from the settlement; however, the question is, how will the lawsuit affect the industry and its long-term customers? You can also check out this data breach settlement.
Disclaimer: You should not submit false or inflated claims under penalty of perjury, as class‑action claim forms historically required declarations signed “under penalty of perjury” to ensure authenticity. Submitting a fraudulent claim not only carries legal exposure—including potential civil and criminal sanctions—but also harms other eligible class members by diluting the available settlement pool.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.
