Verizon could raise the Telco Recovery fee even after agreeing to a $100 million settlement over it

Some of the verbiage used in such settlements indicates that the defendant does not admit any wrongdoing. That's why Verizon, the nation's largest cell phone carrier, plans not only to continue charging its subscribers telecommunications administrative and collection fees (currently $3.30 per line per month), but could even increase them. A notification regarding the settlement that Verizon sent to customers says it all. “Verizon has denied and continues to deny that it did anything wrong and that the lawsuit has any merit. Verizon declares that it will continue to charge administrative fees and that it has the right to increase administrative fees.

Directed emails Verizon clients to the settlement website. Verizon customers “who received postpaid wireless or data services from Verizon and who were billed and paid an administrative fee between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023″ are eligible to file a claim and all claims must be submitted by April 15.

According to technical artthe last time Verizon increased these fees, it was in the middle of 2022 and the fees increased from $1.95 to $3.30. At the same time, the name of the fees was changed from “Administrative Fees” to the current name “Telecommunications Administrative and Collection Fees”. Fees began in 2005 and were originally 40 cents per line per month.

Importantly, the lawsuit did not demand that the carrier stop charging subscribers these fees. Instead, he said that Verizon should “honestly and adequately disclose administrative fees and their true nature and basis in Verizoncustomer invoices and in communications with group members no later than the creation of the wireless services contract. He also suggested that the carrier reimburse customers for “any undisclosed (or insufficiently disclosed) extra-contractual charges they were forced to pay.”