FCC reaches record $25M settlement with Verizon Wireless over “mystery fees”

October 29th 2010

Verizon Wireless on Thursday reached a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over "mystery fees" and agreed to pay $25 million to the U.S. Treasury, the largest in FCC history.

"The FCC has got your back. People shouldn't find mystery fees when they open their phone bills — and they certainly shouldn't have to pay for services they didn't want and didn't use. In these rough economic times, every $1.99 counts," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski in a statement.

According to Genachowski, Verizon will repay 15 million consumers more than $52 million dollars.

The FCC opened an investigation 10 months ago against Verizon after customers complained, accusing the company of charging 15 million customers "mystery fees" for data use on their mobile phones.

Verizon Wireless said most of the refunds will be between $2 to $6 via a credit to the customer's accounts. Former subscribers will be sent checks.