If you Purchased a Cellphone From AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless or AT&T Mobility, a Class Action Settlement May Affect Your Rights.
A proposed class action settlement has been reached in four class action lawsuits pending against AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility (collectively, “AT&T” or “Defendants”) alleging that the sale of handsets by AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility that have been programmed not to operate with other compatible wireless telephone carriers’ services using software locks is improper and that this restriction has not been properly disclosed to AT&T cell phone customers, according to the AT&T Locked Handset & Cellphone Locking Class Action Settlement Notice.
The four AT&T cell phone locking class action lawsuits are:
- Meoli, et al. v. AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC, et al., Superior Court of Alameda County, California, Case No. RG03086113, Judicial Council Coordination, No. JCCP 4332
- Mendoza, et al. v. Cingular Wireless LLC, et al., Superior Court of Alameda County, California, Case No.RG0311415; Judicial Council Coordination, No. JCCP 4332
- Pickering v. Cingular Wireless, LLC, Circuit Court of Palm Peach County, 15th Judicial Circuit, Florida, Case No. 2004 CA 005060,
- Graber v. AT&T Wireless PCS, LLC, et al., Circuit Court of Palm Peach County, 15th Judicial Circuit, Florida, Case No. 2004 CA 004650.
Settlement Class Members in the AT&T locked cellphone and handset locking class action settlement include those who have or had an AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, and/or AT&T Mobility individual account and purchased, directly or from an indirect retailer, a wireless handset other than an Apple iPhone for use with AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, and/or AT&T Mobility service from March 12, 1999 to April 2, 2010.
The AT&T cell phone or handset locking class action settlement provides, among other things, that AT&T Mobility agrees to give to its eligible AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility current and former customers, upon request and where available, codes that unlock AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility handsets other than (i) the Apple iPhone; or (ii) any handset that AT&T Mobility introduces or has introduced for sale pursuant to a contract with a handset manufacturer that provides for an exclusivity period of ten (10) months or longer (“AT&T Handset”).
Unlock codes for AT&T Handsets will reportedly be provided to eligible postpaid customers who have completed a minimum of ninety (90) days of active service with AT&T Wireless, Cingular or AT&T Mobility and who are in good standing and current in their payments at the time of the request.
AT&T Mobility will provide unlocking codes for AT&T Handsets upon request to eligible prepaid subscribers who provide a detailed receipt
or other proof of purchase of the handset.
For AT&T Handsets for which AT&T Mobility has an exclusive sales arrangement with a manufacturer of less than 10 months, the period of exclusivity associated with that sale must have expired before an unlocking code can be obtained. Customers may request five unlock codes per year.
A final fairness hearing is scheduled to be held on July 2, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. for the Court to determine, inter alia, whether the proposed class action settlement should be finally approved.
For more information on the AT&T cell phone or handset lock class action lawsuit settlement and potential settlement benefits, and/or for updates on the settlement, write to AT&T Wireless/Cingular Locking Class Actions, P.O. Box 8060, San Rafael, CA 94912-8060 or visit the AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility locking lawsuits class action settlement website:
www.attlockinglawsuits.com
If You Have Thoughts On The AT&T Wireless, Cingular and AT&T Mobility Locked Handset & Cell Phone Locking Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, Share Your Settlement Comments Below.
Purchased an ATT htc Tilt 2 from the ATT store in March 2010. Within a week the phone had locked while in my purse, and I contacted technical support, and they could not help. My sister came and went online working with a tech, and they were unable to unlock the phone. Finally they suggested to open it and take the battery out. This is the only thing that worked. The phone worked for about 36 hours. Then I was ready to pick up the kids, and phone was locked again. Several times we took out the battery and soon as we put the phone back together, it locked again.
I took the phone back to the ATT store and requested a replacement. They were out of stock. Repeatedly I had the same problems with the phone locking all by itself when not in use. Being frustrated I returned to the ATT store again for a replacement phone. THis time the agent could not transfer my phone numbers and pictures so I was advised to take it home, load the materials on my computer and then return.
Sadly I went home and desperately tried to load the information on to my computer but it did not work. I asked the tech coordinator at school and she could not get it to work either. So Now I am stuck with a malfunctioning $350.00 phone that doesn’t work, locks and refuses to reset itself, and the irony of it all is that it locks at the most inopportune times.
Your immediate cooperation will be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Yours truly,
Amy Scott