Verizon over the weekend acknowledged a long time billing problem that has affected at least 15 million of the wireless carrier’s customers.
According to a statement issued by the company,
As we reviewed customer accounts, we discovered that over the past several years approximately 15 million customers who did not have data plans were billed for data sessions on their phones that they did not initiate.
Whoops. The company said today that it will reimburse affected customers, issuing credits that will primarily fall between $2 and $6 a piece. Some customers, however, will receive larger credits. Credits will also be issued to some former customers.
So, just how long has Verizon known about this “several year” old problem? That depends on who you ask, I suppose. David Pogue over at The New York Times highlighted the issue back in November of last year, when a reader claiming to be a Verizon employee brought it to his attention.
“They have started training us reps that too many data blocks are being put on accounts now; they’re actually making us take classes called Alternatives to Data Blocks,” the reader told Pogue. “They do not want all the blocks, because 40 percent of Verizon’s revenue now comes from data use. I just know there are millions of people out there that don’t even notice this $1.99 on the bill.”
Verizon has yet to confirm or die earlier knowledge of the problem.
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