If you are a current or former U.S. Verizon customer who received postpaid wireless or data services from the company and were charged particular administrative fees, you might get up to $100 thanks to a class action lawsuit.
Those in the Settlement Class would have been charged an Administrative Charge and/or an Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge between Jan. 1, 2016 and Nov. 8, 2023. They must file a claim by April 15 for a chance to receive settlement funds.
“If you received a notice about this settlement by email or mail, you are in the Settlement Class according to Verizon’s records and are eligible to file a claim for a payment from the settlement,” said the website for the lawsuit (Esposito et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless).
According to the site, the administrative fees Verizon charged were unfair and not adequately disclosed. While Verizon denies any wrongdoing, the company has reached a proposed settlement agreement with the plaintiffs. As it stands, the agreement would require Verizon to pay $100 million into a Settlement Fund if it becomes final. Money in the fund would be used to make settlement payments, pay the costs of distributing notice and settlement checks and electronic payments and other administrative costs.
All recipients would receive an initial minimum allocated amount of $15 for their account plus $1 for each month with the administrative charges, up to $100. If the $1 million fund isn’t enough to cover all claims, the payouts will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
“If you file a claim by the deadline and are eligible for a payment, your payment may be up to $100.00 for your account, but the final amount may be lower depending on how long you were a Verizon subscriber and how many Settlement Class Members file valid claims,” said the suit website. “Also as part of this settlement, Verizon will amend its Customer Agreement to include revised Administrative Charge disclosures.”
Since Verizon continues to deny any wrongdoing, the company has also said it plans to continue charging the administrative fees. However, the settlement would require Verizon to amend its Customer Agreement to include revised Administrative Charge disclosures.
Still, the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey hasn’t yet decided “whether Plaintiffs’ claims and/or Verizon’s defenses are valid,” said the suit website. A hearing to consider whether the settlement is fair is scheduled for March 22. It is not clear how long it will take for the court to decide on the settlement after the hearing.
“By agreeing to the settlement, neither Verizon nor Plaintiffs make any admissions regarding any liability by Verizon or the merits of the allegations, claims, or defenses in this case,” the site explained.
Those who want to file a claim can do so here. If people in the settlement class decide not to file by the due date, they will give up their right to receive a settlement. People in the settlement class can also opt out or submit a comment.
For those who do submit a claim, settlement payments would be issued after the settlement is approved and becomes final, by check or electronic payment.
“Any settlement payment checks that are uncashed or deemed undeliverable by the Settlement Administrator, those amounts will be treated as unclaimed property of the corresponding Settlement Class Member, subject to applicable state unclaimed property procedures (the additional administrative costs of such unclaimed property process will be deducted from the unclaimed property amounts on a pro rata basis),” said the suit.
If a claimant wants to edit or update their claim, they can go to “Submit Claim” page and re-enter their Notice ID and Confirmation Code provided in initial notices and confirmation emails.