dslreports logo
 story category
Verizon To Refund Millions For Unwanted Ring Tones
Florida Attorney General strikes agreement with carrier...
As part of an agreement with Florida's Attorney General, Verizon and Alltel (now part of Verizon) will have to deliver roughly $30 million in refunds to consumers for ringtones and other services that customers either didn't want or didn't understand they signed up for. According to a statement by Attorney General Bill McCollum, Verizon is also required to adopt new guidelines preventing customers from getting snookered by such promotions in the future. Cell phone content includes ringtones, music, wallpaper, horoscopes and other material that is often promoted by online marketers as “free,” but ultimately ends up costing up to $19.99 a month, says a statement from McCollum's office.
view:
topics flat nest 

canesfan2001
join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL

canesfan2001

Member

All for show

Bill is just doing this stuff as a front to try and get elected Gov. in 2010. Another Attorney general who only started caring when he saw a better job opening up!

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: All for show

said by canesfan2001:

Bill is just doing this stuff as a front to try and get elected Gov. in 2010. Another Attorney general who only started caring when he saw a better job opening up!
Hey, I don't care what their motivation is for pro-consumer action, I just care about the results. If he really is doing this to make a bid for governor, you better believe he'll make sure those results are exactly what he wants.

JohnQPublic6
Premium Member
join:2002-03-22
Xanadu

JohnQPublic6 to canesfan2001

Premium Member

to canesfan2001
Amen. Please, Karl, don't feed the attention whore we call Attorney General.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

1 recommendation

cableties

Premium Member

Let me guess...a rebate?

"Dear VerizonWireless customer,
You may have purchased a ringtone from us and we got you good. However, we got caught. Our punishment is to offer you this $20 off-rebate-coupon on your next new phone purchase†††. Thank you. Suckerz."

†††Can not be applied to any phone model except discontinued Motorola KrazR VZ1330. Activation Fees, applicable taxes, and markup not included. Rebate off expires Dec 1, 2009. Ho Ho Ho!

binded
@senescomarine.com

binded

Anon

Re: Let me guess...a rebate?

lol thats great so true

when will the courts finaly make sense these companys
rack in millions and in some cases billions of bucks from us stupid people when they get caught though its nothing more then the cost of doing business when will the fines be more then what they made in there rip off to start with

its like the **AA you download one song and there trying to sue you for a few million bucks

i made a huge post about this the other day

these companys will continue to cheat, rob, steal, or what ever else they can get away with as long as the fine to what they make is not greater then what they made

if you cheat 1,000,000 out of some one but only get fined 200,000 theres still 800,000 profit in it for them so they will continue to fuck us

crying that every one should cancle there service thats a joke no one is going to vote with there wallet like that

its much easyer to cry and bitch and complain that they fucked you over and get a 20$ class action check LOL

Hpower
join:2000-06-08
Canyon Country, CA

Hpower to cableties

Member

to cableties
lol that is exactly what I though too. Stupid rebate.
The Antihero
join:2002-04-09
Enola, PA

The Antihero

Member

I wonder...

...if they're also going to stop charging people for "free trials" that they've tried to cancel repeatedly.

When I upgraded my phone around the beginning of the year, it came with some free trials (VZW Navigator & something else.) I never even tried it out, so I cancelled it a week before the trial period was even up -- or so I thought. For the next few months, they kept trying to bill me for it anyway. I'd call in, get a credit issued, and supposedly the services I didn't want were cancelled. Then the same thing would happen next month. Only this month did they finally get it right.

I understand mistakes and glitches happen, and I wouldn't be too upset if it had happened just once. But for it to happen repeatedly like this is simply inexcusable. There are only two possible explanations: Either the people working there are complete and total idiots, or the company is doing it on purpose, hoping that people won't notice and call in like I did.


OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

OSUGoose

Member

Re: I wonder...

or the sales rep that put it on there originally, kept readding it, ever consider that?
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Block 'em

If you got Verizon Wireless, call customer service and request them to add "Block Premium SMS".

The reason is because all those third party companies bill you for that w/o your consent and most of the time VZW won't give you credit for it.

CurGeorge8
join:2005-05-02
South Park, PA

CurGeorge8

Member

Re: Block 'em

said by glinc:

If you got Verizon Wireless, call customer service and request them to add "Block Premium SMS".

The reason is because all those third party companies bill you for that w/o your consent and most of the time VZW won't give you credit for it.
Absolutely. I wish this feature was auto added on everyones account by default, and that you had to call in and get it removed. Now that would truly be a settlement.

Quaoar
join:2004-08-11
Fort Collins, CO

Quaoar to glinc

Member

to glinc
VZ did credit my account for some "ringtone" service that neither I nor my wife can recall, since I install ringtones on our phones, and I acquire them from free services or legal song downloads.

We had been billed for three months, $9.95/month, and the CSR *immediately* provided a "number" to text to unsubscribe, no questions asked.

When I asked the CSR about it, the CSR said that there had been some illegal access to VZ's accounting system. The thing is, the charging site must have my or my wife's VZ telephone number to make the charge, yet neither of us has ever accessed a site (except for VZ Wireless) that asked for a wireless number, nor would we have provided the number if asked.
Quaoar

Quaoar to glinc

Member

to glinc
VZ did credit my account for some unidentified "ringtone" service that neither I nor my wife can recall, since I install ringtones on our phones, and I acquire them from free services or legal song downloads.

We had been billed for three months, $9.95/month, and the CSR *immediately* provided a "number" to text to unsubscribe, no questions asked.

When I asked the CSR about it, the CSR said that there had been some illegal access to VZ's accounting system. The thing is, the charging site must have my or my wife's VZ telephone number to make the charge, yet neither of us has ever accessed a site (except for VZ Wireless) that asked for a wireless number, nor would we have provided the number if asked.

The only way for a non-VZ Wireless site to gain access to a VZ wireless number is through VZ Wireless's "Get it Now" system that connects one, through VZ Wireless's web site, to the seller via "Get it Now". I did download a "free ringtone" through "Get it Now".

VZ Wireless MUST HAVE KNOWN that charges were being made without user's consent. After all, VZ Wireless must get a 20% or so service charge from the site that offered the "free ringtone".

I think VZ Wireless is likely complicit in these false charges to user accounts.

mrkevin
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.
Premium Member
join:2007-08-07
Aurora, ME

mrkevin

Premium Member

Unbelievable

These people knew they would be charged. I still don't understand why we need the govt to protect us from our stupidity.

These people who couldn't live without the latest Brittney Spears ring tone failed to read the fine print. (unless it was omitted completely (which I doubt)) In my book that makes you the sucker and entitled to $0 refund.

"As part of the settlement, the company will pay a total of $1.5 million, with $1 million for Verizon Wireless and $500,000 for Alltel, to reimburse the state for the costs of its investigation and to help the Attorney General’s Office fund the efforts of the task force as it continues to press for similar reform across the industry."

Wow, a private company funding a State judicial task force.
what part of that sounds like its good for anybody?

Mike D0
I want your skulls
Premium Member
join:2001-09-12
Harrisburg, PA

Mike D0

Premium Member

Re: Unbelievable

I agree with mrkevin See Profile people should learn to read the "fine print" before moving ahead. Rarely are things in this world free anymore without having some string attached to it. Especially on the net.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: Unbelievable

said by Mike D0:

I agree with mrkevin See Profile people should learn to read the "fine print" before moving ahead. Rarely are things in this world free anymore without having some string attached to it. Especially on the net.
People are stupid and want to believe that they can get something for nothing. These are the same people that think it's ok to download music, movies and Tv shows for free because it's on the internet. As if that has anything to do with anything.

Menaveru
@gblx.net

Menaveru to Mike D0

Anon

to Mike D0
How is this an issue for any Wireless Carrier? Why don’t they go after the companies providing the short codes for these services? Blocking them by default does loose you access to some free short codes, that are very handy. Such as the Amber Alert system.

Verizon victim
@Stanford.EDU

Verizon victim to mrkevin

Anon

to mrkevin

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

Since you were not a victim in this case, you are not aware of exactly what the scam was. While I was with Verizon, this scam was perpetrated on me this way:

My phone was set up for calling only. No outgoing text, no internet connectivity, no file sharing to the Verizon servers, no Bluetooth syncing with my computer, no cable sync with my computer, no sync with my computer at all.

One day I receive a text message from a unidentified sender saying I can get ringtones by visiting this website and downloading them onto my phone. Realizing it was worthless spam, I deleted it. I didn't respond because I couldn't. I didn't download the ringtone because I couldn't add it to my phone anyway.

On my next month's bill there is a charge from some random company for $10 claiming I downloaded a ringtone from their website. Clearly this was fraud, so I called Verizon immediately. After arguing with the rep for about a half an hour I was able to convince them that I did not download the ringtone and that they had to charge back the amount.

Unfortunately, others who don't read their 20+ page phone bills (or have an electronic bill which they ignore) didn't see the $10 incremental charge and paid it without knowing. These are the folks that were truly scammed, which was the whole point of the fraud: To send a spam message and then fraudulently charge the customer immediately, with Verizon's help.

So these people didn't know they would be charged. They didn't know that receiving a text message spam would cost them $10, and that Verizon was in on the deal. The number of people who were sent the text spam through the Verizon system numbered in the hundreds of thousands at least. Verizon allowed this to happen, took no action except on a case by case basis, collected money from their defrauded customers and sent a portion along to the criminals they were in business with.

Mike D0
I want your skulls
Premium Member
join:2001-09-12
Harrisburg, PA

Mike D0

Premium Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

Wow that's crazy. In a case like that then i definitely encourage the gov to step in and slap verizon on the wrist.

So I wonder how it is going to be determined if it was legitimate like your case or if some idiot really thought they were getting something for free and are now trying to get out of paying for it.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

This is not only a problem with verizon cellphones. As I also work with selling sprint & boost, customers from sprint and boost get charge for it also.

At least verizon gives you the option of blocking this charges, you can't block it with boost and with sprint you have to access your account online and add the 5 digit # that the text came from to block from further texts.
Chaldo
join:2008-03-18
West Bloomfield, MI

Chaldo to Verizon victim

Member

to Verizon victim
Now when I tell people I truly hate this company, I mean it. They cripple phones, do scams like this.

I have a cousin who switched from them because him, and his wife's bill where too high. The bill changed almost every month. The last bill came and they got charged 100 in overage fees, they called up and said "are you kidding I call verizon users almost all the time, how in the world did I go over?" The lady specifically explained to go check the online bill and hanged.

So we went online, and saw charges on phone numbers like 0000000000, 1111111111, 0101010011, etc, they where all scrambled with 0's and 1's. We called up, asked they said that must be from another country we cant do nothing. So we canceled, now they are with att wireless, and have better coverage in there appt then verizon did and have no problems.

I totally hate verizon wireless, the fios division I actually like.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

lol hating VZW is one thing, but these scams other carriers have it also as I posted above you.

Verizon is the only company that offers you a feature to add it in your account to block it.

Mike D0
I want your skulls
Premium Member
join:2001-09-12
Harrisburg, PA

Mike D0

Premium Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

I have to wonder how people are targeted or if it is a certain area. I have had sprint for like 3 years now in PA and have never received some random text msg that charged me anything.

mrkevin
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.
Premium Member
join:2007-08-07
Aurora, ME

mrkevin

Premium Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

I have a hard time believing all of it. I cant see how they can text you, then bill you. sounds sketchy to me.
They are targeted by the word "FREE"

And if these people have 20+ pages of unread cell phone bills, that's their fault and we shouldn't be wasting state resources on curbing idiocy

sdlotu
join:2003-03-04
97003

sdlotu

Member

Re: Unbelievable (but true)

Since it's difficult for you, let me be more specific:

The scammers took advantage of a known weakness in the Verizon billing system, to wit: when the scammer reports a billable charge to Verizon, Verizon does not or can not verify if the charge is in fact valid.

The scammers thus pay Verizon to transport the spam text message to their customer base with the knowledge that they can bill innumerable victims immediately. Verizon will assume that the charges are valid without any proof from the scammers and add the charge to the user's bill, taking a portion of the price for Verizon's own profit.

Making the scam even more effective is the fact that cell phone bills are long, complicated and confusing, which deters many if not most users from even idly perusing the massive list of calls and charges. When the fraudulent charge is buried in this pile, even more unsuspecting victims will pay without thinking.

Admittedly, people who don't read their bills, whether cell phone or credit card or whatever, are simply setting themselves up for victimization.

But that's not what the case was about. It was about the idea that a third party company can bill anyone through Verizon's account system with no proof that the charge was even incurred. Clearly, this is not a case that thousands of individuals would be able to press, while the Attorney General is in the perfect position to expose both the scammer and the incompetence of Verizon.

While I never expect the Attorney General to get me my money back, I do expect him and his staff to intervene to prevent massive fraud and victimization like this. The monetary compensation is a token, but it absolutely the only thing that corporations understand.

bent
and Inga
Premium Member
join:2004-10-04
Loveland, CO

bent

Premium Member

No. It can't be.

Cell phone sales people lied? I have always held them in the same regard as televangelists, lawyers, and politicians. I'm so disillusioned now. Is there no one left to have faith in?

Zen6
@rr.com

Zen6

Anon

credits/settlements

I have been a VZ wireless customer for 10 years and seen a few class action suits come along. It seems as though the only people making money are the lawyers. Never seen a credit or any money from a settlement.

luster
join:2009-03-28
Salisbury, MD

luster

Member

Simple Confidence Scam

They lie, they cheat, they steal. I can't imagine anyone's surprised by this. All you have to do is read some of the other stories about Verizon here on DSLR. They're from one deception right on into another and then another. Honestly providing a service and caring about customers is but a memory. Ivan and company, it pleases me to see this. But, what I can't understand is why Bill McCollum isn't seeking jail time for officers and board members. After all, this nothing more then what a common con artist would be jailed for.

binded
@senescomarine.com

binded

Anon

Re: Simple Confidence Scam

why because there protected by there deep pockets

theres nothing esle that needs be said more about that

lostonline
@telkom-ipnet.co.za

lostonline

Anon

Hidden charges in contracts!

I wonder how many people either will not know that they should claim, or will not bother to claim back the hidden charges. This is a prime example why I will not sign a contract with a cell carrier. It really seems sometimes as if the descriptions of charges are intentionally indiscernible. So it’s easy to see how this could happen to literally thousands of people. And I'm sure Verizon is not the only company involved in this kind of scheme.
I prefer to use prepaid phones where I pay for what I use, with no hidden charges added. For instance: my Straight Talk plan will give me 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30mb data for $30. Not $35-$40 after all the added hidden charges! And with prepaid phone options now often cheaper than contracts there really is no reason to sign on the dotted line anymore.
rockyfork
join:2003-02-14
Hillsboro, OH

rockyfork

Member

FLYCELL

Really supprised the name FLYCELL did not show up in any of the post here. Many have been caught up in their foolish scams.......