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You might have heard that AT&T agreed to return $60 million to customers for allegedly reducing the data speed on their unlimited data plans without telling them.

In its 2014 complaint, the FTC said that AT&T’s practice of data throttling – slowing down the data speed for unlimited customers who used large amounts of data – was unfair and deceptive. It was unfair because AT&T promised unlimited data, but didn’t give customers the data they paid for. And it was deceptive because AT&T didn’t tell customers it was reducing their data speed, says the FTC.

Customers who pay for unlimited mobile data have a right to expect to get unlimited data. If the company will slow down the data speed for users who exceed a data cap, it must tell customers it’s going to do that.

After the court approves the settlement, the money will be distributed to AT&T customers who signed up for an unlimited data plan before 2011 and were affected by the data throttling. Customers do not have to do anything to get their portion of the settlement: current customers will get a credit on a future bill and former customers will get a check in the mail.

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connie
November 14, 2019
when I had their internet, I paid for the fastest speed but when the man who fixes problems with them came out, he said i was only getting 1.5 gigs. never going back to them for anything
Gary Nemerofsky
November 14, 2019
I have been an ATT suscriber, acct holder since 2005 and was affected by this latest data overage issue. What's next?
FTC Staff
November 14, 2019

In reply to by Gary Nemerofsky

After the court approves the settlement, the money will be distributed to AT&T customers who signed up for an unlimited data plan before 2011 and were affected by the data throttling. Customers do not have to do anything to get their portion of the settlement: current customers will get a credit on a future bill and former customers will get a check in the mail.

seispro
November 15, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

Thanks for the effort put forth by the FTC to collect funds for the people who were actually impacted opposed to the gov collecting fines in behalf of those who were damaged.
long Time at&t guy
February 18, 2020

In reply to by seispro

The “great effort” resulted in about $10. This is criminal.
Seispro
March 04, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Where can I expect to receive FTC comment response concerning attaining the award? Email, phone, here? Thx
twinky47
November 14, 2019
Add me to the list.
Debbie nicholson
November 16, 2019

In reply to by twinky47

I've been having the same problem. Not only that but they shut my phone off and I end up paying again. I even get confirmation messages stating I have time. Then when I try to call I'm told I have very little time or a zero balance. This has been an in going problem.
Pleddress
November 22, 2019

In reply to by Debbie nicholson

AT&T is one of the only two services that will work in my rural area of the world for 20 years. Switched to prepaid AT&T this past April and my service went from bad to completely unacceptable. I don’t even have cell service now because why should I pay for services that were constantly being offered but not honored. Apple, AT&T, Google, and Microsoft all have issues or is it just me that’s being targeted!
Paul from NY State
November 14, 2019
This kind of Corp. behavior is inexcusable. I'm thinking of switching carriers . AT&T isn't the company it used to be.
seispro
November 15, 2019

In reply to by Paul from NY State

I was an AT&T sense the early 90’s. Multiple private & companies company phones. This very issue along with outrageous overage charges on my unlimited plan is why I changed.
rife5717@
November 14, 2019
Endless resource hours expanded by customers that were contacting at&t on an ongoing basis/ complaints for resolution of the problem.
easyeddy
November 14, 2019
How do I know if I’m qualified to receive a rebate?
FTC Staff
November 14, 2019

In reply to by easyeddy

After the court approves the settlement, the money will be distributed to AT&T customers who signed up for an unlimited data plan before 2011 and were affected by the data throttling. Customers do not have to do anything to get their portion of the settlement: current customers will get a credit on a future bill and former customers will get a check in the mail.

GlobalCitizen
January 06, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

What is the settlement amount per customer? Is it a fixed amount or does it vary based on some criteria like the number of months subscribed to the unlimited plan? If it varies, how is it calculated?
bobboyeson
January 14, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Have the class action awards been distributed? If so what’s the process to collect my award? During that era I had 5 phones. Are the funds quantified on a per line basis?
Seispro
March 13, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I meet the refund criteria but I haven’t received anything. How do I go about following up? I thought this was a refund? Not what remains after legal fees from a Class Action? How are amounts determined?
Paula
April 15, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I was a user of AT&T unlimited data for over 7 years; cancelled the service last year. I have yet to receive any refund via mailed check. Please advise next steps. Thank you
SpyPigeon
November 14, 2019
What about if the recipient moved?
FTC Staff
November 14, 2019

In reply to by SpyPigeon

In general, programs that send refunds by mail will update addresses with the US Postal Service National Change of Address Database before they start the mailing.

Also, refund programs usually have a customer service phone number or email address that you can contact if you have questions. 

The AT&T settlement was announced very recently. You can check with AT&T and the FTC for more information in the coming weeks.

Anon7
February 19, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I called ATT as I have moved multiple times since closing my account with them. After explaining that I was calling with the belief that I qualified for the refund, they hung up on me twice. On the third call the rep said they mailed checks to the last known address on file in their system, not according to a database. They refused to check my name or previous number to determine the address that they have on file. Seems they are certainly intent on not making amends with customers who have moved. Perhaps they get to keep any funds that don't get cashed as a result of being mailed to the wrong address...
Ms.Muggi
November 15, 2019
Super, congratulation to FTC. But how we will the Credit????? I was a costumer with AT&T and out of 12 Billing Cicely 11 where wrong.
`Jimbo
November 14, 2019
add me
Teri61
November 15, 2019
I have AT&T I had unlimited at one time & they changed me to different plan 2 x without asking me. So does this affect me?
FTC Staff
November 15, 2019

In reply to by Teri61

After the court approves the settlement, the money will be distributed to AT&T customers who signed up for an unlimited data plan before 2011 and were affected by the data throttling. Customers do not have to do anything to get their portion of the settlement: current customers will get a credit on a future bill and former customers will get a check in the mail.

Jrpinmaryland
November 14, 2019
Thank you guys so much for getting them to pay back the people who were taken advantage of. I worked in the wireless industry for years and it’s about time they were held accountable. Thank you.
Kitty
November 14, 2019
Thank you for this info, my internet has been slow all the time although I call and they said will increase speed, not true! Still getting slow internet, calling AT&T or contact via internet is difficult, waiting time is unbelievable!
gwenym
November 14, 2019
What about slowing down other devices hooked up to ATT such as ATT U-verse. Unlimited but gets slower all the time?!
Cappy
November 14, 2019
In the latter part of the 2000s, had an unlimited plan for my daughter, but had her internet restricted. I still paid for the unlimited rate, and hadn't changed her plan. When I removed the restriction, which was after ATT removed the unlimited rate, they charged me the new rate, saying it was because she was not grandfathered at the unrestricted rate. Made no sense to me since I'd been paying for unrestricted all that time. Nothing I could do but pay the new rate.
Bea1108
November 20, 2019

In reply to by Cappy

I was done the same exact way, I limited my son also. Then they said I had to pay the new unlimited price!
undrthstars
November 15, 2019
What if our address has changed since we had AT&T?
FTC Staff
November 15, 2019

In reply to by undrthstars

In general, programs that send refunds by mail will update addresses with the US Postal Service National Change of Address Database before they start the mailing.

Also, refund programs usually have a customer service phone number or email address that you can contact if you have questions. 

The AT&T settlement was announced very recently. You can check with AT&T and the FTC for more information in the coming weeks.

Rro432
November 14, 2019
How much are we talking for a refund/credit in our bills...is there like an average per month that we were being taken advantage of?
SusieQ
November 14, 2019
I called enough and complained but they told me that it was my equipment. I dropped everything that I could to get my bill within reason. I’ve had AT&T for fifty years and bought the first big bulky cell phone they offered. I’ve always liked them but my bill kept going up each month. I’m a creature of habit and glad that they owned up and will settle. Just would love to see some kind of security and tracking of unwanted calls.
john oestreich
November 14, 2019
Will I automatically be reimbursed ? Is every person contacted eligible Yes/No. Your email is a bit confusing? Please notify
FTC Staff
November 15, 2019

In reply to by john oestreich

After the court approves the settlement, the money will be distributed to AT&T customers who signed up for an unlimited data plan before 2011 and were affected by the data throttling.

Customers do not have to do anything to get their portion of the settlement. Current customers will get a credit on a future bill. Former customers will get a check in the mail.

ConfusedMan
December 04, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

What exactly does “and were affected by the data throttling.” mean? For example, if I had a family plan with 5 iPhones all with unlimited data beginning in 2010, does that mean I was affected by their data throttling five times?
Poppy
November 14, 2019
I will believe it when I see the check. Being I am a former customer of 18 years, I learned ATT has not honored an agreement in the past, why should this time be any different? Good Luck People!
nightshine
November 14, 2019
So, what about customers who had this happen after 2011? I had my data totally stopped when I was told I reached 22 GB! Nowhere was that ever explained to me. It cost me hundreds of dollars because I was speaking at a national conference and really needed my internet!
QueenMajesty
November 14, 2019
I feel that we all should have the option how we receive are monies back. I gave them my hard earn dollars in cash and I expect for them to return it too me. By crediting our accounts they are receiving interest on that money.
Marieka Myers
November 14, 2019
I was a former customer and was told my data was unlimited and wouldn’t be effected by that wasn’t true.
tnrlos
November 14, 2019
I've been a customer for years when ATT took over my ISP and have constantly called about price increases that only last 6 months and service that kept getting slowed down. I'm glad to see them brought to justice. Same goes for their phone service when I changed to U-verse voip to cut their costs, but they keep raising it. Adios, ATT.
ATT Customer z…
November 14, 2019
This is not the first time I’ve been bilked by ATT and I have been loyal through multiple businesses and now cellular. I was paying $140/month for a single phone for unlimited and today, I have limited GB and they consistently mess with it to slow it down. SO, I had to upgrade to 16GB even though I use less than 2 GB average/monthly. This needs to be further investigated for other plans ---- not just unlimited.
Hstuff112
November 14, 2019
Add me I have a new address
FAIRWEATHERFAN
November 14, 2019
I have had an AT&T "prepaid" plan for several years, but I'm not sure WHAT I signed up for (I pay $40/month because I get a $5 discount for signing up for automatic payments). I think in the past I did have "unlimited data," but there IS a limit currently, which I only exceed if I'm on a long trip, without WiFi available (at least some of my monthly unused data does roll over). I'm wondering if the prepaid customers are eligible for any sort of refund???
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