Brigette Honaker  |  June 24, 2019

Category: Consumer News

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sprint logo on phoneA recent class action claims that Sprint debits consumer bank accounts regularly without written authorization or other authentication.

Plaintiff Catherine Hosino allegedly experienced this issue in June 2018 when Sprint debited her account for an automated recurring withdrawal of $1,3989.94. Hosino says she had insufficient funds for this massive charge.

Hosino claims that she was not a Sprint customer when the company debited her account and she had no reason to believe she owed any sort of outstanding balance on her Sprint account that was closed in November 2017.

“Based on banking records, it appears that Sprint had Plaintiff’s debit card information on file, and without written authorization, decided to attempt to automatically withdraw the entire balance through an EFT request with her banking institution without notice or authorization, written or otherwise,” the Sprint class action lawsuit claims.

Due to this unexpected transaction, Hosino submitted a fraud dispute with her bank and her account was frozen while the bank looked into the issue. The plaintiff disputes Sprint’s claims that she owes them money.

In her Sprint class action, Hosino argues that Sprint likely initiates similar transactions with other consumers despite not having consumer authorization.

“Such conduct is inherently deceptive in that it misrepresents to consumers the right to stop automatic withdrawals and results in Defendant continuing to automatically withdraw, and to potentially overdraft, Plaintiff and the Class’s accounts,” the Sprint class action lawsuit claims.

The Sprint class action lawsuit alleges that the cellular provider violates the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) by failing to acquire consumer consent before making transfers.

The EFTA was passed in 1978 to adjust to the growing prevalence of electronic banking and ATM usage. The act aimed to provide banking customers with the same amount of confidence that they had with paper checks by requiring a notice of fees, clear disclosures, and clear authorizations of transactions.

In terms of authorizing transactions, the EFTA requires that a “preauthorized electronic fund transfer from a consumer’s account may be authorized by the consumer only in writing, and a copy of such authorization shall be provided to the consumer when made.” Sprint allegedly fails to comply with this requirement by failing to get a consumer’s written authorization to debit their account.

Hosino seeks to represent a Class of individuals for whom, within the past year, Sprint initiated recurring electronic funds transfers from a debit card account or bank account number without first providing a copy of written authorization. She estimates that there are at least hundreds of individuals included in the proposed Class.

The Sprint class action lawsuit seeks actual damages or statutory damages (whichever is greater), punitive damages, injunctive relief, interest, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Hosino and the proposed Class are represented by Todd M. Friedman, Adrian R. Bacon, and Thomas E. Wheeler of the Law Office of Todd M. Friedman PC.

The Sprint Unauthorized Charges Class Action Lawsuit is Hosino v. Sprint Solutions Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-03223-JSC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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105 thoughts onSprint Class Action Says Funds Debited Without Consent

  1. Bill Lunn says:

    We have just found out that they have been debating one of our accounts sense 2017!
    What is the best way to get our money back?

  2. Gary C Powers says:

    I have the same problem. Being charged on a closed account. If there is any information as to how I can become involved with this class action, it would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone had there credit affected by this nonsense?

  3. Jesus Rodriguez says:

    I would like to be added to the class action. In December of 2019, I cancelled services with Sprint where I was paying them over 325.00 dollars monthly for 4 lines and moved my wireless service to Cricket for $125.00 on 5 lines of service. I had been a Sprint Customer for well over 5 years. I was willing to pay them two weeks remaining on my account but they decided to bill me for two months totaling $862.00. I informed them that I would pay them for the two weeks but not two months that they we’re claiming. On February 2020, I was texted a message from my bank asking if I had authorized an ACH for $871.00 to Sprint to which I responded “no”. They informed me that Sprint was attempting to remove these funds from my bank account. My Bank stopped the Unlawful attempt to which Sprint continues to steal money from people that are trusting this carrier. Sprint has placed over five collections agencies against me and is destroying my credit for something of their own making. The definition I have to describe these modern day crooks is evil with a goal to become unduly enriched by their schemes. I have paid Lexington Law several months to remove Sprints Collections from my credit reports but have not succeeded. At the moment I have paid in access of $1,000.00 dollars to Lexington Law. I will not pay for something that I do not owe just because Sprint says so. These crooks need to be stopped.

  4. Larry Allred says:

    Sprint as done to me as they have done to all these 101 people. There taken money from my account without my permission. They sign my name on contracts without my permission. They switch the plan I had To the most expensive plan they have without my permission. They have refused to give me my phone data, That I have requested many times. I have evidence to prove what I have said above , Including tape recordingsWith Sprint’s own employees, Admitting to this fraudulent activity.

  5. Katrina Lowe says:

    Between the blatant taking of money right from your account and the TEP they have been fraudulently charging me to the tune of $700 I can’t stand the abuse any longer. It’s shocking to me that there isn’t more accountability for them. Meanwhile here I sit for the third time just today after 2 hours waiting to talk to cancelation department. A supervisor was supposed to call me back an hour ago. Shame on you Sprint for being such crooks to your customers.

  6. Logan Deal-Figueroa says:

    Sprint keeps shutting off my services even though my bill is paid. Then tell me that I need to pay more. From Oct. 25, 2020- November 26, 2020 they’ve forced me to pay $600. Also, an employee set up a line in my name, on the same account, without my knowledge and now it’s in collections but they said they can’t see anything. What do I need to do?

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