Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, OpenMarket and Alltel accused of charging Customers for unauthorized Content

Sprint Nextel and other wireless service carriers including T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, OpenMarket and Alltel have allegedly charged their cell phone customers for mobile content without the customer's authorization. (Mobile content includes ringtones; premium text messaging services; joke-a-day programs; sports scores; horoscopes; weather reports; games; wallpaper and screensavers, and more.)

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Customers charged for Unauthorized Content

Mobile content is sold by mobile content providers (which number in the hundreds) to consumers through their cellular telephones. The charges for such products appear on the consumers' cell phone bills as separate line-item charges.

Many of these mobile content providers charges consumers' cell phone bills without obtaining consent. Several lawsuits are currently pending which attempt to correct this issue.

A lawsuit filed in Lyon County, Kansas against Sprint Nextel claims that Sprint has not adopted procedures requiring customer authorization before the charges are assessed. It states that potential violations of existing laws include the failure to make required disclosures about cell phone charges and "cramming," i.e., charging for products and services never expressly authorized by cell phone users.

Cell Content Lawsuits

The Sprint case is one of more than 30 similar cases throughout the country involving third-party mobile content providers. Currently, lawyers are investigating the billing practices of other wireless service carriers besides Sprint Nextel to determine if customers have been improperly charged and billed for third party mobile content they allegedly never ordered. Lawyers believe certain wireless service carriers have violated state consumer protection laws as well as common law for breach of contract.

If you have received unauthorized charges on your Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, OpenMarket or Alltel cell phone bill you may be entitled to recover money.

Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, OpenMarket and Alltel Legal Help

If you or a loved one have been charged for unauthorized content by Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, OpenMarket or Alltel , please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

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Last updated on Sep-15-09

LEGAL ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

Mobile and Content Providers under Scrutiny but Rapidly Developing

July 2, 2008

Simon likens his obligation to paying for unwanted and unauthorized mobile content to being forced to pay to listen to telemarketers or crank callers. Three years ago he filed a complaint about T-Mobile for negligence in not providing a text-blocking device when his girlfriend was receiving unwanted SMS-text messages. The company's succinct response was 'change your number'. Unfortunately, with mobile marketing in rabid development today, you can be sure multiple companies will be text-messaging your number. READ MORE

Unauthorized Ringtones Still Ringing

June 23, 2008

Nathan is frustrated and annoyed with Sprint. The giant wireless carrier refused to take unauthorized mobile content charges off his bill, and worse, it charged a late payment fee for the ringtones that Nathan and his wife never even purchased. READ MORE

More Customer Frustration Regarding Unauthorized Mobile Content

June 19, 2008

Wireless Service Carriers, including Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, OpenMarket and Alltel have caused customers no end of frustration regarding unauthorized mobile content charged to their cell phones. READ MORE

MORE LEGAL NEWS

Cell Phone Carrier Settles Lawsuit

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Sprint Nextel Early Termination Fees Ruled Illegal in California

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by
Rhode Island
on December 28, 2009

I am being charged for "casual data usage" although I have an everything messaging plan and only use text and picture messaging (no internet). I was told that they would continue to charge me for this (although at a lower rate). This is false advertising and a huge ripoff. This is something that (according to many message boards including Sprint's website) happens to many customers. My guess is it happens to all customers who have messaging and not data plans.

Posted by
Washington
on July 7, 2008

Over a period of two years, Verizon has charged my account for "data charges" that are erroneous. When I called to have them taken off, they agreed, then re-charged the amount, sometimes doubling it before showing an incorrect credit amount. So far it has accumulated to an amount of $30.43 after "adjustments" and continues to rise each time I call to have it corrected!

Posted by
New York
on June 24, 2008

I had the name of the person I spoke to and noone would help me resolve the issue. Now I am in collections. I was told that the fees would be waived due to all the problems I had. I am now in collections for almost 1,200 dollars. Can you help me?

Posted by
Florida
on June 19, 2008

I have received outrageously high monthly bills. I sign up for one price and the bill is 3xs the amount it should be. I have called supervisors to have them credit my bill. Ringtones are being added and none are being downloaded. Customer service will not remove the charges.

Posted by
Washington
on June 12, 2008

When I signed up I was told I would have a month of free downloads. I got my bill and there was a huge charge for downloads. I disputed this with the individual and he denied saying anything about free downloads. This is a troublesome issue that needs to end.