Hey ATT Business users: a loophole means unlimited data for AT&T iPhone due to billing issue class action lawsuit.
It has been recently reported that AT&T is overcharging for data and a pending federal class action lawsuit claims that “AT&T’s bills systematically overstate the amount of data used on each data transaction involving an iPhone or iPad account,”. The plantiff actually ran their own study by purchasing a phone, disabling all data functions and still were billed data charges by ATT. The suit charges AT&T with five counts including unjust enrichment, unfair business practices and violating the federal law that prohibits “unjust and unreasonable” telecommunication charges.
The suit claims that AT&T overcharged users data anywhere from 7-300% more than actual usage. And while on a 50KB download speed, this data usage could be as small as 53.5 KB (7% over), it could also be billed as much as 600KB (300% over). The claim also states that AT&T is billing not only higher than accurate overage charges, but that they are also billing for phantom usage (e.g. billed for usage that never occurred) This is especially concerning to business users when one looks at the aggregate usage of data over many users. Here are all the details on the lawsuit.
In a related article in the Huffington Post, a spokesman for AT&T defended the company. “We have only recently learned of the complaint, but I can tell you that we intend to defend ourselves vigorously. Transparent and accurate billing is a top priority for AT&T,” he said. The link to those details are here: Huffington post reports .
One important loophole to this issue is that AT&T is now offering unlimited data plans to existing users. A yahoo news article explains:
“AT&T has allowed subscribers who have had an unlimited data plan in the past to switch back. That includes anyone who had an iPhone before June, when the limited plans took effect”.
AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel wouldn’t confirm the option to return to an unlimited plan. “We handle customers and their situations individually, and we’re not going to discuss specifics,” he said.
AT&T has always allowed iPhone and smart-phone users with unlimited-data plans to keep them when upgrading directly to a new device, but it is the ability to return to an unlimited plan after going limited that is the carrier trade secret they want to keep under cover.
Protect your wireless rights; make sure, like the carrier, you get your unfair share.
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