Onebox, Phone People & eVoice by j2 Class Action Settlement

Virtual telecommunications provider j2 has entered into a settlement agreement with a group of customers who say they were charged excessive late fees.

On Aug. 26, 2014, plaintiffs Law Enforcement Officers Inc. filed a putative class action against j2 Web Services Inc. and j2 Cloud Services Inc. (formerly known as j2 Global Inc.) and these companies together are called j2.

In March 2015, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding Christopher Dancel as a named plaintiff.

The consumer class action lawsuit alleged that j2 charged customers exorbitant late fees for voice services on the brands Onebox, Phone People, and eVoice without notice.

Under the terms of the j2 late fees class action settlement, the defendant will pay an estimated 170,824 potential eligible Class Members who submit a valid and timely Claim Form up to $25 via check or credit for one late fee.

Additionally, subject to Court approval, j2 has agreed to pay up to $385,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs and $2,500 to Dancel as a Class Representative Enhancement Award for his participation in this class action lawsuit.

j2’s payment of all of these fees and costs will not reduce any amounts paid or credited to eligible settlement Class Members.

Furthermore, j2 has agreed not to sue or pursue settlement Class Members for not paying late fees charged by j2 at any time before or up until Sept. 30, 2015 and will amend the Onebox and eVoice customer agreements to specifically identify the amount of the late fee associated with each customer plan.

j2 also agrees it will not charge a late fee to any service customer of more than $10 for any single late payment.

By agreeing to the settlement, the parties avoid the cost and risk of a trial and the settlement Class will get compensation.

The settlement does not mean that any law was broken. j2 denies all of the claims asserted in the action and denies that it has violated any laws.

Class Members who wish to exclude themselves or object to the terms of the settlement must do so by Jan. 5, 2017.

Who’s Eligible

You are a settlement Class Member if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• A U.S. resident Onebox or Phone People customer who was charged a late fee by j2 from Aug. 26, 2010 until Sept. 18, 2014
• A U.S. resident eVoice customer who was charged a late fee by j2 from Aug. 26, 2010 until Apr. 10, 2015
• A U.S. resident Onebox or Phone People customer who paid j2 a late fee from Aug. 26, 2010 until Sept. 18, 2014
• A U.S. resident eVoice customer who paid j2 a late fee from Aug. 26, 2010 until Apr. 10, 2015

Potential Award

$10 – $25.

Eligible settlement Class Members who submit a valid claim and proof of a late fee payment for the services during the Class Period, will receive money or a credit as follows:

• If you are a past customer of j2, you will be sent a check in the cash value of one late fee
• If you are a current customer of j2, you will receive a credit for one late fee

The amount of the payment or credit will be based on the highest late fee you provide proof you paid j2. These will range between $10 to $25.

Proof of Purchase

To receive money or a credit from the settlement, you must be an eligible settlement Class Member and you must complete and submit a Claim Form on the settlement website by Jan. 5, 2017.

You must also submit proof that you paid j2 a late fee during the Class Period of Aug. 26, 2010 to Sept. 18, 2014 for Onebox or Phone People and by Apr. 10, 2015 for eVoice.

Examples of proof are:

1. a copy of your credit or debit card statement showing payment of a late fee for the services
2. a copy of your monthly billing statement for any of the services showing payment of a late fee
3. a copy of your online billing history for the services showing that a late fee was assessed and paid

You can easily upload a PDF or JPG of your proof on the settlement website at the time you submit your Claim Form.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

01/05/2017

Case Name

Law Enforcement Officers Inc. v. j2 Web Services Inc., Case No. BC555721, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles

Final Hearing

02/15/2017

Settlement Website

www.j2LateFeeSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

j2 Late Fees Settlement
c/o Heffler Claims Group
P.O. Box 58340
Philadelphia, PA 19102-8340
Email: info@j2LateFeeSettlement.com

Class Counsel

André E. Jardin
K.L. Myles
KNAPP PETERSEN & CLARKE APC

Joseph S. Farzam
JOSEPH FARZAM LAW FIRM

Defense Counsel

Mark D. Litvack
Kimberly L. Buffington
Mariah L. Brandt
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP