Verizon Wireless Premium SMS Settlement

Under the terms of a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission and State Attorneys General, Verizon Wireless has agreed to provide refunds to current and former account holders for unauthorized commercial Premium Short Messaging Service (Premium SMS) charges originating from third parties that were placed on Verizon’s telephone bills. If you believe unauthorized Premium SMS charges from third parties were placed on your Verizon Wireless telephone bill since July 1, 2010, you may be entitled to a refund for these charges.

Premium SMS was a service through which wireless customers could purchase content for their wireless telephone that would be delivered via text message by third-party content providers. Examples of Premium SMS content included sports information, screen backgrounds, ringtones, entertainment and subscriptions to other services. Verizon stopped delivering and billing for these Premium SMS products in January 2014.

The settlement only applies to Premium SMS charges for commercial charges, and does not include charges for charitable giving or political contributions made by text message.

Current account holders will receive a credit to their wireless telephone bill, while former account holders will receive a check.

Who’s Eligible

If you are a current or former Verizon Wireless account holder and believe unauthorized Premium SMS charges from third parties may have been placed on your Verizon Wireless telephone bill(s) since July 1, 2010, you may be eligible for a refund.

Potential Award

Varies. Verizon Wireless account holders may be entitled to receive a refund for unauthorized and previously un-refunded Premium SMS charges incurred since July 1, 2010, provide that the current or former account holder satisfies all three of the following requirements:

• The current or former account holder electronically submits or postmarks a Claim Form by Dec. 31, 2015;
• The current or former account holder has not already been fully refunded according to Verizon’s billing records; and
• The current or former account holder attests that the charges were not authorized.

NOTE: Former account holders may not receive a refund if the total refund due is $3 or less.

Proof of Purchase

N/A. You may be asked to identify the unauthorized charges that were billed to your account. To assist with filling out the Claim Form, you may request a billing summary that reflects your Premium SMS charges by visiting the Settlement Website.

All refund claims are subject to review and verification.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

12/31/2015

Case Name

N/A

Final Hearing

N/A

Settlement Website

www.CFPBSettlementVerizon.com

Claims Administrator

Verizon Wireless Premium SMS Refund Program Administrator
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 10186
Dublin, OH 43017-3186
1-888-726-7063

Class Counsel

N/A

Defense Counsel

N/A