Cablevision Class Action Says Customers Billed For Canceled Service

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Cablevision alleging that customers are billed for cable, telephone, and internet access even after they cancel the service.

Plaintiff Lee Presser argues in his Cablevision class action lawsuit that he canceled his Optimum service in the middle of a billing period, expecting to be charged on a pro rata basis for the time period in which he did not use the cable service.

However, he was informed that he canceled the service three days after the next billing cycle and would be charged for a full month of service.

The Cablevision class action lawsuit states that, “Prior to October 2016, Defendants’ termination policy was as follows: termination was effective on the date an Optimum customer contacted Defendants to discontinue these services, and Defendants credited the customer’s account for services past the cancellation date on a pro rata basis.”

Presser alleges that Cablevision changed their policy and now charges their customers a full monthly price, even if they cancel the service during the monthly billing cycle.

“Defendants did not provide separate written notice of this change in their billing policy, as is required by New York and Connecticut law,” the Cablevision class action lawsuit continues.

Cablevision purposefully did not notify their customers of this change to the Optimum service so that they could increase their profits by having the consumers pay more, the Cablevision class action lawsuit claims.

The Optimum class action lawsuit states, “This lawsuit seeks restitution for customers who cancelled their Optimum services within a billing period, but were nevertheless charged for the entire 30-day billing cycle without proper notice.”

The plaintiff notes that if he knew he would be billed for the remainder of the month before he returned his equipment, he would have done so earlier to avoid the extra charges.

Presser brings this class action lawsuit under New York General Business Law, New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, and Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ deceptive and unlawful acts and practices, Plaintiff and class members have suffered ascertainable loss of money or property, and monetary and non-monetary damages, including time and expenses related to disputing Defendants’ billing practices,” the Cablevision class action states.

The Class Members are defined as customers in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut “who subscribed to Defendants’ Optimum services prior to October 10, 2016 and cancelled their services before the end of their then-current billing period, but were charged for the entire final billing cycle.”

Presser is represented by Scott A. Bursor and Philip L. Fraietta of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The Cablevision Optimum Billing Practices Class Action Lawsuit is Presser v. Cablevision Systems Corporation, et al., Case No. 7:19-cv-05484, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  

Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:

Nissan Altima Transmission Defect Class Action Settlement Reached

IED Attacks in Iraq May Be Compensable Under Anti-Terrorism Act

Spirit Airlines Class Action Says ‘Shortcut Security’ is Complete Sham

How Long Does a Zimmer Knee Replacement Last?