Consumers Union is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.
truth in billing
AT&T Systematically Overcharges for Data, According to Lawsuit
An NBC news report about a lawsuit brought against AT&T Mobility over alleged, systematic overbilling on iPhones and iPads points up yet again the need for careful government scrutiny and rejection of that company’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile. It also drives home the need for the Federal Communications Commission to expeditiously put in place proposed Continue Reading
Categories: Internet, Phone
Tags: AT&T, competition, Consumer, Internet, iPhone, truth in billing, wireless
New Poll Shows Consumer Support Building for “Bill Shock” Protection
New Poll Shows Consumer Support Building for “Bill Shock” Protection NEWS RELEASE Thursday, May 12, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 WASHINGTON, DC – Over 60% of wireless customers with traditional cellular plans would support a government rule to avoid cell phone “bill shock”, according to a new poll released today by Continue Reading
Categories: Phone
Tags: Bill Shock, Consumer, truth in billing, wireless
The Facts About AT&T/T-Mobile Merger
From a consumer standpoint, it’s hard to see much of anything to like about AT&T’s proposed purchase of T-Mobile. The $39 billion mega merger would create the country’s largest wireless company, which along with Verizon – the other big national player in wireless – would control nearly 80 percent of the U.S. marketplace. Consumers Union Continue Reading
Categories: Internet, Phone
Tags: AT&T, competition, Consumer, Droid, early termination fees, Federal Communications Commission, Internet, iPhone, Regulation, truth in billing, verizon, wireless
New AT&T Data Caps Limit Consumer Choice, Add to Excessive Overage Charges
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 – Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, sent a letter to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on Tuesday, urging the telecommunications company to reconsider a recently announced policy that would place data usage caps, as well as corresponding overage charges, on its DSL and U-Verse Internet access service.
Categories: Internet
Tags: AT&T, High Speed Internet, Internet, ISP, truth in billing
Wireless Device Freedom
What is wireless device freedom and what does it mean for consumers?
Categories: Internet, Phone
Tags: AT&T, Bill Shock, competition, Consumer, Droid, early termination fees, Federal Communications Commission, iPhone, truth in billing, verizon, wireless
Consumers Union writes AT&T, Verizon, FCC about changes in wireless plans, presses companies to step up effort to notify consumers
WASHINGTON — January 26, 2011 — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today wrote the chief executives of AT&T and Verizon and the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the companies’ recent changes to their wireless plans and the need to alert consumers. AT&T has made extensive changes to its text messaging plans and upgrade discount program, while Verizon has ended its upgrade discount program.
Categories: Internet, Phone
Tags: AT&T, Consumer, Droid, iPhone, truth in billing, verizon, wireless
Consumer groups alert FCC about broadband practices
WASHINGTON, January 21, 2011 — Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America today filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about evidence of recent moves by broadband Internet providers that the groups said “appear to be contrary to preserving an open Internet.” Last month, the FCC adopted “net neutrality” rules to limit Internet providers from favoring or discriminating against traffic that goes over their networks.
Categories: Internet
Tags: competition, Network Neutrality, truth in billing
Consumers Union Urges Crackdown on Cell Phone “Bill Shock” in FCC Comments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 10, 2011 — Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today joined other public interest groups in filing joint comments at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of a crackdown on cell phone “bill shock” — the problem when people get hit with unexpected charges on their wireless bills.
Categories: Internet, Phone
Tags: AT&T, Bill Shock, Consumer, truth in billing, verizon, wireless
Verizon Wireless Refunds for Unauthorized Charges Don’t Solve Problem
This weekend Verizon Wireless fessed up to billing 15 million of its customers for data services they didn’t use. The admission came amid an FCC investigation of the deceptive charges. We are glad Verizon has finally admitted to slipping these sneaky charges into the bills of millions of consumers for services they did not ask for, authorize, or inadvertently accessed, but we are far from satisfied with the solution offered by Verizon.
Categories: Phone
Tags: competition, Federal Communications Commission, truth in billing, verizon, wireless
Some Shocking Survey Numbers on “Bill Shock”
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about “bill shock,” the unpleasant experience of receiving a huge, unexpected bill from a wireless company. Now we have some new numbers from the FCC showing the true breadth of bill shock among American consumers. A new FCC survey has found that 30 million Americans – or one in six wireless phone users – have experienced a sharp and sudden increase in their monthly bill not caused by a change in their service plan.
Categories: Phone
Tags: Bill Shock, competition, early termination fees, High Speed Internet, truth in billing
