Verizon, Sprint Customers Face Deadline To Claim Refunds

(RTTNews) - Customers have until the end of the year to apply for a refund as part of a $158 million settlement Verizon and Sprint reached for overcharging monthly bills.

The two companies were "cramming" their customers, overcharging monthly bills by $9.99 a month by placing unauthorized charges on wireless phone bills.

"For too long, consumers have been charged on their phone bills for things they did not buy. We call these fraudulent charges 'cramming,' and with today's agreements we are calling them history for Verizon and Sprint customers," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in May.

The FCC said the placement of unauthorized charges and fees on consumers' telephone bills is an "unjust and unreasonable" practice that is unlawful under the Communications Act.