HARRISBURG, PA – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a $10.25 million settlement with major mobile device service carriers over deceptive advertising practices. The settlement requires carriers to be truthful in their advertising, disclose all fees and agreements, and train customer service staff accordingly. Pennsylvania will receive over $260,000 as part of the settlement.
The terms of the settlement address misrepresentations in advertisements related to “unlimited” data plans, “free” phone offers, and wireless carrier plan comparisons. The carriers were accused of failing to clearly disclose limitations and differences in the offers. The settlement, in the form of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, includes specific requirements for future advertisements and consumer offers.
Specific obligations for wireless carriers under the settlement include making all future advertisements truthful, accurately representing “unlimited” mobile data plans, clearly disclosing fees for consumers to “switch” carriers, and offering devices for “free” only with transparent terms and conditions.
The settlement was filed with major carrier companies, including AT&T Mobility, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile USA, and Cellco Partnership, which operates as Verizon Wireless and TracFone Wireless. For more information on the individual agreements, visit the Attorney General’s website.