Verizon has announced that it will spend a total of $90 million to resolve long-standing complaints from customers regarding data charges resulting from accidental data usage by unintended use of mobile web services when no data package is provisioned on the device and account, leading to charges of $1.99 per occurrence.
As the majority of customers affected owned devices from Verizon with browsers mapped to function keys instead of a dedicated button, it increased the probability of such occurrences happening, famously detailed in a New York Times piece written by David Pogue. The settlement also takes into account other complaints where built-in apps and software in the phones initiated data access without prior warning.
The carrier will issue the $2-$6 refunds via bill credit for current customers and former customers that were also affected will be receiving checks based on the address of the former account prior to termination expiration.
In an additional development, the New York Times also reports that the refund is the result of FCC pressure after receiving hundreds of complaints regarding the matter and disclosing that it opened up a formal investigation into the matter in January at the end of settlement talks with the carrier.
