As a result of an FCC investigation, AT&T agreed to pay $700,000 for forcing grandfathered pay-as-you-g0 subscribers to full data plan. The company is also refunding customers.
Some consumers who replaced phones under warranty or insurance, or who moved were switched to the monthly data plans, even though AT&T had said the “grandfathering” policy would continue to apply.
AT&T has agreed to refund excess charges paid by customers, which could be as much as $25 to $30 a month. The transfers began in November 2009, after AT&T required smartphone buyers or upgraders to enroll in monthly data plans.
The FCC advised AT&T subscribers to check their bills closely and contact the company if they see any overcharges related to wireless data.
AT&T has agreed to make a voluntary payment in the amount of $700,000 to the U.S. Department of Treasury and refunds to individual customers.
AT&T has also agreed to a compliance plan with consumer notification, training and periodic compliance reports to the FCC. AT&T must also conduct additional searches of its records to identify improperly switched consumers and ensure appropriate refunds.
AT&T reported that the issued was corrected in November. 2010 and many customers were refunded.
Due to the decree AT&T will provide bill-page notices to affected customers, offering refunds, and giving them the option to return to a data pay-per-use plan, or to have a data block applied to their phone."