Verizon Wireless to credit customers for billing errors

Verizon Wireless (VZ) said it will begin crediting the accounts of about 15 million customers beginning this month due to wrongly charging customers for data services on their mobile devices. The carrier said the refunds would on average be between $2 and $6, though some will receive larger amounts.
The carrier said that after reviewing customer accounts it found that some customers without data plans were billed for data sessions that they did not initiate. Most of those sessions involved data transmissions caused by software on their devices, while others were web access that should not have incurred a data charge. The carrier typically charges customers $2 per megabyte for data transmission when they are not on a data plan.
“Verizon Wireless issues credits to customers from time to time based on regular review and monitoring,” noted Mary Coyne, deputy general counsel for Verizon Wireless, in a statement. “When we identify errors, we remedy them as quickly as possible. Our goal is to maintain our customers’ trust and ensure they receive the best experience possible.”
Published reports indicated that the Federal Communications Commission had been investigating the carrier and pricing discrepancies following complaints from consumers and could invoke additional penalties on Verizon Wireless.