T-Mobile accused of "cramming"

[Rarely-Wrong Liggins]

Hundreds of millions of dollars

No wonder the CEO is so cocky

The Federal Trade Commission accused wireless carrier T-Mobile of adding bogus charges totaling "hundreds of millions of dollars" on customers' accounts without their consent.

In a statement released Tuesday, the FTC alleges T-Mobile placed charges on mobile phone bills for premium subscriptions that were never authorized by customers.

The agency says T-Mobile participated in "cramming," a practice where the carrier places charges for services from a third-party company on consumers' bill without telling them. The FTC says T-Mobile also made it difficult for its customers to detect the charges.

"It's wrong for a company like T-Mobile to profit from scams against its customers when there were clear warning signs the charges it was imposing were fraudulent," said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez in a statement. "The FTC's goal is to ensure that T-Mobile repays all its customers for these crammed charges."

FTC's Jessica Rich says T-Mobile was "deceptive and unfair" because the company had let charges from third-party companies continue on consumers bills after "clear warning signs those charges were fraudulent."

Charges related to conduct go back to at least 2009 and through at least December 2013, says the FTC.

T-Mobile could not be reached immediately for comment.

The FTC allegations arrive as T-Mobile is attempting to distance itself from its competitors with its selection of "Uncarrier" wireless plans aimed at eliminating contracts. Last week, the company introduced free music streaming and the ability to try a new iPhone for free.

During the "Uncarrier" push, T-Mobile CEO John Legere has been on the offensive about wireless rivals loading up customers with restrictive contracts and high fees.

The company has also been the subject of merger talks with fellow wireless carrier Sprint. The deal is reportedly worth as much as $50 billion.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/07/01/ftc-tmobile/11913151/

 

[PremierDaTruth]

Be fooled by a commercial with "swag" though brehs

 

[Liquid]

people really need to understand that all these companies are going to do whatever they can get away with or think they can get away with.

NONE ARE YOUR FRIENDS. THIS IS CAPITALISM

 

[Maddmike]

They tried that shyt with me. I had a 12 dollar charge on my bill and when I called tmobile, they told me it was nothing they could do because I had "done something" through a 3rd party and had to take it up with them.

When I called this company, they basically gave me the run around, so I started to harass tmobile and they eventually took it off. I had no idea they were behind it the entire time

 

[head shots101]

God damn this T-Mobile service suck....working at a new hospital and I can hardly get service.....man I wish another service provider have unlimited data

Oh why oh why I left Verizon for a cheaper bill smh

 

[Family Man]

Y'all nikkas need to get on that Unlimited prepaid plan.

 

[Big Jo]

I got those charges on my bill like a year and half ago. They reversed them after I called and complained but the whole thing was sketchy.

I still like T-Mobile as a company & service but this is not a good look for them at all

 

[Stealth]

T mobiles not the only one that does shyt like this

 

[Stealth]

They tried that shyt with me. I had a 12 dollar charge on my bill and when I called tmobile, they told me it was nothing they could do because I had "done something" through a 3rd party and had to take it up with them.

When I called this company, they basically gave me the run around, so I started to harass tmobile and they eventually took it off. I had no idea they were behind it the entire time

I've had encounters like this with my internet and directv. Both times they've increased the bill by like 10-20 bucks and both of them said the same thing, "you had a promotional thing going on with your account and now its expired"

didnt have time to argue but anytime you get hit with one of these understand you are more then capable of removing it. These corporations make billions, they can afford to lose out. Just threaten them and say you'll be canceling your services and they'll most likely bulge

 

[StarClout]

I've had encounters like this with my internet and directv. Both times they've increased the bill by like 10-20 bucks and both of them said the same thing, "you had a promotional thing going on with your account and now its expired"

didnt have time to argue but anytime you get hit with one of these understand you are more then capable of removing it. These corporations make billions, they can afford to lose out. Just threaten them and say you'll be canceling your services and they'll most likely bulge

Watch who you pull this bluff with. Verizon/AT&T will most likely call your bluff and cancel you

 

[Stealth]

Watch who you pull this bluff with. Verizon/AT&T will most likely call your bluff and cancel you

my internet provider got crazy defensive once i told them that so it'll work with them. Im with ATT right now and these motherfukkers have a new price every month. One month it goes up i gotta call to lower it and they do. mad inconsistent. My contracts up in september, your suggesting i shouldn't say that? Then what should i say besides mentioning that their a billionaire corporation?

 

[Liquid]

Watch who you pull this bluff with. Verizon/AT&T will most likely call your bluff and cancel you

If it comes to that then go through with the cancellation. If its over a BS charge or a "service" fee that they added you can probably fight it and win.

All those providers are just greedy...hit them where it hurts. Go to MNVO...do SOMETHING else. They are charging cats $100+ a month and its STILL not enough for them

*waits for @itsyoung!! to come out and claim that they are just trying to make a dollar *

 

[GoldenGlove]

I thought T-Mobile was for the people though...

 

[RAX 010]

All of these corporations are robbing us blind

time to wake up

 

[Maddmike]

Kind of like those cable companies that use that "signal fee" on thier bills. I asked them to explain it for me and they really told me it was for the digital signal coming out of the wall....

S/N: a class action might happen