Koster secures settlement funds from Verizon, Sprint

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster secured funding for Missouri as part of nationwide settlements with Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

The settlements for a combined $159 million reached with all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the federal government resolve allegations the companies engaged in a practice known as cramming, or placing unauthorized charges for third-party services on customers’ cellphone bills, according to the release.

Missouri will receive $250,396 from Verizon and $187,759 from Sprint. Under the full settlement, Verizon and Sprint agreed to pay $70 million and $50 million, respectively, directly to consumers harmed by the practices.

“These settlements will return thousands of dollars in restitution to Missouri consumers,” Koster said in the release. “Mobile cramming will not be tolerated in our state.”

Customers can submit claims for restitution at CFPBSettlementVerizon.com and SprintRefundPSMS.com.

Cramming charges include unauthorized services, such as “premium” text messaging for celebrity news, horoscopes, trivia and sports scores.

Verizon and Sprint become the third and fourth mobile providers to enter national settlements over the practice. AT&T reached a similar settlement in October, followed by T-Mobile in December. Total settlements with regulators represent $1.03 million in payments to Missouri customers and $290 million nationwide, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]