A class action settlement of a lawsuit filed against AT&T relating to early termination fees (ETF) has been preliminarily approved by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, according to news reports. The AT&T class action lawsuit reportedly alleged that AT&T Mobility’s older flat-rate ETF in its wireless telephone service contracts was unlawful.
The AT&T Mobility class action settlement agreement provides that AT&T Mobility will pay $16,000,000 in cash and $2,000,000 in non-cash benefits into a settlement fund for the benefit of settlement Class Members. According to the AT&T Mobility ETF Settlement website, class relief is as follows:
•If you can prove you paid in full a flat-rate ETF, or AT&T Mobility’s records indicate you paid in full a flat-rate ETF between and including January 1, 1998 and November 4, 2009, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $140.
•If you certify under penalty of perjury that you paid in full a flat-rate ETF between and including January 1, 1998 and November 4, 2009, but cannot prove it and AT&T Mobility’s records do not indicate you paid in full a flat-rate ETF, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $25.
•If you were charged a flat-rate ETF, or AT&T Mobility’s records indicate you were charged a flat-rate ETF, but did not pay in full and/or did not receive a full credit within 30 days, you may submit a Claim Form to receive up to $25.
•Non-cash benefits, up to $2,000,000, will be provided for Persons who are parties to contracts for a wireless telephone accounts with a flat-rate ETF with AT&T Mobility as of November 4, 2009, and who have not paid or been charged an ETF between and including January 1, 1998 and November 4, 2009. Non-cash benefits include: (1) an AT&T Prepaid Long Distance Card with up to 200 minutes; or (2) converting a flat-rate ETF to a prorated ETF.
The actual amount received or non-cash benefits available (other than the prorated ETF benefit) will vary depending on the number of claims received.
I had received earlier a short notice, asking if I wanted to be in this class action suit? It said to not do anything if I did but I then noticed that this collection company that they had turned me immediately turned me into…had (early opt out) by my name. I did not opt out as this is exactly the problem I tried to talk to them about). I had very good credit with them for 10 years but I got 4 mobile phones for family members. Anyway when I tried to get ATT to work with me and break charges down for me….they shut all off plus my home phone,dsl and all. They were through with me and my $1400.00 bill. So I wonder what happened.