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Politicians Probe AT&T Over Phantom Mobile Data Charges
Senators Klobuchar, Kohl Raise Questions of Meter Accuracy
A lawsuit filed earlier this year accuses AT&T of over-billing for wireless data, the lead attorney in the case making the media rounds last week accusing AT&T of operating a "rigged gas pump." The lawyers behind the case say they spent more than $80,000 on tests that prove AT&T systematically overbills all users for wireless data anywhere between 7 and 300%, though AT&T denies the allegations and insists the problem is applications that covertly consume data overnight. The lawsuit has since gotten the attention of U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Herb Kohl, who this week sent AT&T a letter asking them to explain the extra charges. The case is of particular note given AT&T's new DSL caps and dubious meters, and their effort to eliminate the consumer right to participate in class actions just like this one using contract fine print. The case also again highlights the fact that there's no regulatory authority confirming that ISP meters (wireless or landline) are accurate.

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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

2 recommendations

pnh102

Premium Member

Good

Consumers have a right to know that AT&T's claims about their metered usage are accurate, especially when there is seemingly such a large problem with customers being charged overages when they should not be.

No company which sells a metered product or service can get away with giving you its unverifiable opinion as to how much of the product or service you consumed. Why should any metered broadband provider be different? If grocery stores, gas stations, water and power utilities and other such companies must submit to government regulation when it comes to ensuring the accuracy of their meters, then so should AT&T.