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Charter customers have filed a class action lawsuit saying that the communications company misled its customers about the costs of its Spectrum cable television services.
The Charter class action lawsuit was filed by Randall Byrne, David Kleuskens, Jerry Henry, Jason Weber, and Susan Foster-Harper. These customers say that they are from Ohio and Kentucky, and all have Spectrum TV subscription with Charter.
Allegedly, the company deceptively increases the monthly rate, charges undisclosed fees, reduces the number of channels included in its packages, and makes it hard for customers to cancel their service subscriptions. The plaintiffs say that they were all offered a lower monthly rate that was then raised, contrary to what the company advertised.
The customers all present similar stories of how the company implanted a “bait and switch” scheme that led to them paying more than was advertised when they decided to purchase subscription.
In Henry’s case, he states that in May 2019, Charter promised him a flat promotional price of $150 per month for a cable package that included Spectrum TV Select. He says that the company promised him that the would be charged this rate for at leas ta year, but only five months later, increased fees. Henry says that by October 2019, the company had raised his monthly rate by increasing the Broadcast TV Surcharge by $1.51.
Then, in December 2019, the company alleged advertised a Spectrum TV “Seasonal Plan” that would allow him to pay less money per month to maintain service at his Ohio home while spending winter in Florida. The Charter bait and switch class action lawsuit asserts that, though the company advertised that he would be charged $9.99 per month for the plan, he was charged $23.40 per month after the company added an undisclosed $13.50 month “Seasonal Broadcast TV Surcharge” to his bill.
The Charter cable TV hidden fees class action lawsuit argues that Henry’s case is far from unique. Allegedly, the company makes a regular practice of advertising low rates but effectively charging customers much more by piling on undisclosed service fees.
The customers in the Charter cable class action lawsuit state that when customers have complained about this surcharge, they have been told a number of different, conflicting stories about the surcharge. They site one customer who says that the first time he called to ask about the Broadcast TV surcharge, Charter told him that it is a “tax” that Charter has no control over.
The second time he called, he says the was given a different explanation. Allegedly, he was told that Charter imposes the surcharge because the local government charged a fee to Charter to show some channels. The Charter representative allegedly told the customer that the surcharge was Charter’s way of passing off this government fee to consumers.
However, the customers in the Charter cable class action lawsuit assert that this is not the case. They say that the surcharge is really just part of what Charter charges, but is concealed so that the company can make the monthly rate appear lower.
According to the customers, the company misrepresents this fee in various ways throughout its advertisements and actively instructs its staff members to lie about the nature of the surcharge to customers.
The customers then go on to take issue with the discounts offered by Charter, saying that they are not real discounts. Allegedly, Charter advertises discounts by offering a certain percentage off of the monthly rate, but effectively makes this discount meaningless, because they strategically raise the base monthly rate, which also raises the discounted rate. This is done because then the discounted rate is still the advertised percentage of the full rate, but is higher than the dollar amount initially advertised.
The customers say that, when they complain about this fake discount, the company claims that the discounts have remained the same though the rates have risen.
Finally, the customers say that they purchased the Charter cable TV services specifically because they believed that the services would include certain channels. However, the company allegedly makes a practice of removing channels from the package, and then telling customers that they must pay extra for channels that were once included in their cable packages.
Have you ever encountered hidden fees in your cable or internet services? Share your experiences in the comments below.
The customers are represented by Hugh W. Cuthbertson and Steve Rickman of Zangari Cohn Cuthbertson Duhl & Grello PC, Michael W. Sobol and Daniel E. Seltz of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, and by Daniel M. Hattis of Hattis & Lukacs.
The Charter Cable TV Bait-And-Switch Class Action Lawsuit is Randall Byrne, et al. v. Charter Communications Inc., et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-00712, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
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568 thoughts onCharter Cable TV Class Action Alleges “Bait and Switch” Tactics
Have had Spectrum Charter for years HOWEVER, now they are liars and thiefs. Got a post card from Spectrum stating that the internet speed in our area has been increase AT NO ADDITIONAL COST to the cutomer….next month the bill went up $5! Later my modem went bad, went an got another and signed an “agreement” for one year of Internet for 49.99. Rep said, “Price will not change.”…two months later they raised MY AGGREED PRICE by $5. They say they will return a call an never do. Their CHAT online is a joke. The phone has many minutes of recordings and you may still never get to a person. Return calls NEVER come. These folks are LIARS and COMMUNISTIC in the way they treat customers and billing. There is NO RECOURSE and NO WAY to get ANYONE with any BALLS about them at all. Unforunately, in my neighborhood, they have a MONOPOLY as there is no other provider with the bandwidth needed for the equipment I have. Knowing they have a MONOPOLY here gives them entitlement to SCREW you any which way they can! They wait until Monday morning to take the entire area network down PUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF WORK!!! And I lost $3500 in trades pre-market because of them. No information, NO TRANSPARENCY at all…just bend over and take it! YES SUE THEM FOR A BUNCH!!! They can afford it. I am goimg to SHORT SHORT SHORT their astock and get every damned penney I can back in my hands. I as livid as livid can be!!
They doing the same thing to me in South Carolina.
Same thing in Missouri. Tried so hard for over a year to get Spectrum Tv off my bill and said they can’t because its one day past due.
So just a little update. Since last night I have done a lot of thinking and researching. Spectrum has a F rating on BBB. Same things happening to others on there. So I am making a decision to record ever conversation I have with from this point one. I will be cancelling them before th 19 of may. But when I do I will record them just in case they try to charge me for anything else. Protect yourself with this company
I am hoping that this is still going on.Ito is April 2021. I got spectrum January, 20 2021. When I called that day I go a sweet girl (or so I thought) I called to get spectrum assist.which is an internet program for low income people. I was told they didn’the have it in my area. But what I can do for you (knew better) is give you oureally triple play package for 59.98 for 21 months. I was sceptical so I asked what are the hidden fees and surprisesee on it? I asked her this 3 or 4 times she reassured me that I would pay 59.98 no hI’d den fees ever. She even went as far as to tell me that the conversations were recorded. That I wounderstand pay a flat fee of 59.98. So I thought it was a great deal. So without needing a phone or even having a TV I agreed. They also told me the equipment was free accept the modem which is 5.00 a month. Everything else was free. I got the equipment the next day. Super fast.I couldn’the believe how fast.they even gave me 3 months free. So today I looked online at my bill because I knew the 3 months were up. Couldn’the believe my bill.138.72 33.00 was movies I rented.but the rest was monthly charges. I got on the phone immediately and spoke to billing. After I explained the situation the girl told me there was nothing she could do. So I asked to speak to her supervisor ando he got on and told me that there was nothing he could do.I keep arguing that I had been in sales and I made the girl who set up account explain everything more then once that is the only reason I got that package. His answerror after I argued with him was well you’ve been in sales so you should know. The bill was what it is. Nothing could been done in was crying and mad. I asked to speak to his supervisor he said he didn’t have one. But that he could give me another number. So I call again. The girl that helped me this time was nice calmed me down and explained it to me. Told me I was getting a great deal like it was. When I told her it wasn’t what was offered she told me once again there was nothing in billing to do. So she would send me over to account specialist who could help. So I had to go through the whole thing again. And although Sandy was helpful. She also to,do me they keep recording of the phone calls but the best she could do was was 81.90. I told her no because it is fraud to tell someone that they will pay one price and charge them another. So I asked to talk to her supervisor. She contacted her and while I was waiting again. Her supervisor emailed her asking what would make me happy. I told her to honor the price that was quoted to me when I set up service. That is when I got transfered. When this girl told me they don’the even have a package like that. But what I can do for you is give you all 3 for 89.99 or just Internet for 59.99 I laughed I told her I want the phone conversation brought up and the price honored. She put me on hold and said she contacted someone looking for the recording. She then tried selling me mobile phone. I laughed. But after 3 hours on the phone she was trying to get me the best rate. Which was what I already had but more then sNdy quoted me. I asked about the if the phone conversation had been found yet. She said no. So I told her to call me when it had. After almost an hour later she called me back and told me that the recording couldn’the be found. Go figure. If this isn’the a bait and switch I don’the know what is. I explained to her that I’m gonna do research and she said she will call mearlier back on may 1st. But she will try to find the phone call. Lol yeah righ. These people need to be stopped. Would love more information on the case please.
This is what they do. I have filed countless of complaints with the FCC, to no avail. On behalf of my elderly Parents who had that Bait snd Switch as soon as I setup new services in Fl. Has gone from 121 I believe on December of 2016. Called Corporate they brought it down again only to billed them double the following month. By February of 2017 it went to 189.00$. Today they are paying over 200.00$. It’s a disgrace.
Myself, they have done that bait and switch till I cancelled them out and obtained another Cable Company Provider in NY.
Moved back to Fl and have this Cable Company from hell .
Funny how the complaints go straight to their Attorneys and the Mock you. There needs to be a huge Class Action Lawsuit against them for every deceitful tactic they commit. Bait and Switch~ Increasing phone due to This Plague. Funny after I submitted a complaint to FCC and rebuttal due to refusal in lowering or giving me a Promotional deal on a new package and/or downgrading . They “ Corporate Office “ ( which are not) calls you back mocking, sends you back to a Supervisor .
They really stress you out as mock you. Mind games.
I finally get to downgrade to Internet/Wifi and phone from Triple Package which they feel it’s a deal at 91.88 per month When they find out at FCC rebuttal which they never replied, they retaliate now and Again! Increased 3$ dollars more.. another FCC complaint. FCC seems to have a huge conflict of interest. They are the ones who are supposed to regulate as investigate YET they clean their hands. Enough is enough. Class Action lawsuit against all involved as boot them out of business..
Seriously!! We here in Florida as other States need to get a lawyer who will file a massive Class Action Lawsuit against these Corrupt money hungry Corporations..
Spectrum/Charter continues misleading consumers on internet speeds and billing arbitrarily with cycle dates and plan names. They also raised rates during the height of the pandemic claiming internet speeds that were not so.
Please add me, here is my story. In 2020 I bought a home in Tn, 1 week later we as a nation were placed on lockdown. During this time I looked into cable options and spoke with a couple of resources, one being spectrum. When I finally moved into the home (4 mos later) I found I was “in collections”. I took the notice along with the box(never opened) to the local spectrum offices. I mean this had to have been a mistake, right…NO, they said I owed them over $300 dollars, what, why, I never had it, never activated, never watched, heck the TVs weren’t even hooked up. I then went through fairshakes legal team to fight this. I did end up paying over $100 for my credits sake. They still have the audacity to solicit me. This is just another large cruel co.
Add me please some how I have a balance of 1000 on collections. Just from Charter Communications
I would love to become a part of this lawsuit. I just moved and was graciously informed that I would have to pay a full months (79.99) service for 8 days of usage. This company is so unethical that they really shouldn’t be in business. Please let me know what I need to do
I’d like to join or start a class action against Spectrum. My situation also falls under the guise of bait and switch. I had been a Spectrum customer for almost 18 month when my cable, internet and phone service was disconnected “accidentally” (their words). This actually cost me lost income that day, but that is not my complaint. With no explanation or apology for the accidental disconnect, these crooks reestablished service (after two long phones calls taking several hours), as a new account! This resulted in new pricing, and a new bill cycle, all of which they conveniently failed to mention! We had no clue anything had changed until three weeks later when we dumbstruck to got a letter from Spectrum that we were late in paying (huh.. we have autopay) and the amount was almost $40 more per month. Also a surprise, the bill cycle was different, and we were expected to pay for 12 additional days.
I’ve attempted to get this rectified by Spectrum, giving them opportunity to make good on their mistake, and to restore my account back to its pre mistake state. However, after three separate attempts to get this restored properly (being on the phone for hours with numerous agents and supervisors) I was ultimately told there was nothing they could do. That despite their understanding my frustration, and acknowledging that
I clearly had a legitimate complaint, the best they could do is bring the cost down to just a $15 increase. The words I heard repeatedly were “sorry your plan is no longer available on the system, and we can’t do anything to get you back to that price”.
I was naive and understanding when the disconnect happened ,
believing them that it was a mistake. After Spectrums’ responses, I no longer believe that, and sadly feel scammed. At the very best, this is horrific and shameful customer service. At the worst it is a scam to get people off the incentive plans they entice you with. Either way, it is disrespectful and deceptive to their customers. As I refuse to pay one penny more, I have cancelled my services (including the mobile plan I had just started a few months ago) and am looking for a legal way to get this attention, not for profit, but to make the public aware of Spectrums shady business practices.
I also was charged a additional three months of cable after I called and cancelled my cable service.
I would like to see a Class Action Lawsuit against Spectrum to remedy those who suffered losses as a result of Spectrum billing practices. I terminated my Spectrum account when they surprised me with an increase in my monthly bill that added up to $480 per year in added fees. My complaint is that they refuse to prorate my last bill so I am forced to pay for services that I no longer agree to or receive. In addition, my complaint is that the bill date was on the 3rd of the month for services billed from the 2nd of the month, thereby making it impossible for me to cancel because of the increase in the bill amount prior to being billed an increased amount. At a minimum Spectrum should be required to refund such customers the prorated portion of the month for which services were terminated. This is especially true for customers who signed up for services prior to Spectrum’s change in billing practices that ended the practice of prorating the final bill amount. Spectrum should also be required to inform customers of the new bill amount before that new amount is billed. Customers who were not informed of the amount of the increase prior to the billing of the increase should also be refunded the amount that the monthly fee increased. In my case alone I would expect a refund of about $120.00. If there are 100,000 customers with this experience, Spectrum has defrauded customers of over a million dollars. It would not surprise me if they have stolen many millions of dollars from former customers. Spectrum has been unjustly enriched and they should be required by law to remedy those who have been cheated.
I’m in the same boat but I’ve only had mine sine June of 2020, and I did the bundle and it was suppose to be like $ 94 tax and all…. the 1st and 2nd months bills I paid were just that, now I $142 and literally have something on my bill called “other fees” on my bill …. I can’t believe this is going on didn’t know….on top of that my internet service is constantly down, and they…gave me “credit” on my bill one month then turned around and charged me the same 23$ the next month in “other fees” I have all my statements if I need to send them… And I should have the email about my original service plan. I will send if necessary, thanks