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Update:
- Judge David C. Godbey consolidated claims against AT&T in February 2022, less than a month after plaintiff Jill Witte filed a lawsuit.
- The judge consolidated Witte’s lawsuit with that of Steven Palumbo; Palumbo filed his complaint in August 2021 and later amended it in March 2022. AT&T and co-defendant DirecTV responded to the complaint later that same month.
- AT&T and DirecTV then filed a motion to compel arbitration for the consolidated class action lawsuit in April 2022.
- Judge Godbey dismissed the case without prejudice in March 2023.
- The suit alleged AT&T misled new customers by allegedly promising them reward cards the company either never sent or sent near or after their expiry date.
AT&T reward card class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Jill Witte filed a class action lawsuit against AT&T Services, Inc. and DirecTV LLC.
- Why: Witte claims AT&T offers new customers reward cards for signing up that it either never mails or sends near or after they are set to expire.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Texas federal court.
(Feb. 7, 2022)
AT&T misleads new customers by promising them reward cards that it either never mails or sends near or after they are set to expire, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Jill Witte claims AT&T uses the promise of a reward card, often worth between $100 to $400 and that expires after 150 days, to tempt new customers into signing up.
Witte claims AT&T either never sends the cards or “delays” doing so so that it won’t have to honor them.
“Rather than sending the card to new customers immediately after they contract and pay for their new AT&T services, AT&T either never sends the Reward Card or delays sending it such that new customer recipients don’t receive it until near or after the card’s short 150-day expiry period,” the class action lawsuit states.
Further, Witte alleges AT&T may also attempt to offer customers a lesser value card than they were originally promised.
Witte claims AT&T’s offer of a $150 reward card persuaded her into signing a contract with the company last year to receive bundled television and internet services.
While alleging she was told the reward card would arrive in the mail within six to eight weeks, Witte claims it never came during that time and that an AT&T representative eventually told her she was not eligible to receive it.
Witte claims AT&T ultimately agreed to send her a $50 reward card instead, which she says she did ultimately receive.
Monetary value of reward cards reduced by AT&T restrictions
Once activated, AT&T also places restrictions on the usage of the reward card, such as by freezing the card for an extended period of time if a threshold amount is spent.
“AT&T’s processes, limitations and restrictions on the Reward Cards and, therefore, their adverse impact that reduces the actual monetary value of the Reward Card to the prospective new customer, are not adequately disclosed at the time new customers are induced to enter into their contracts for bundled services with AT&T,” the class action lawsuit states.
Witte claims AT&T is guilty of negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment and in violation of Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Witte wants to represent a nationwide class and Florida subclass of AT&T customers who either never received their reward card, received it after it had already expired or were unable to activate it.
Plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with compensatory, special, treble and general damages for herself and all class members.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed against AT&T last year by a consumer in Florida who argued the company either never sent or sent nearly expired reward cards to new customers who switched to the provider.
Have you been promised a reward card for signing up with AT&T that you never received or were unable to activate? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by William B. Federman and John Charles Sherwood of Federman & Sherwood; Gary S. Graifman and Melissa R. Emert of Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman P.C.; and James M. Evangelista, David J. Worley, Kristi Stahnke McGregory and Hannah Drosky of Evangelista Worley, LLC.
The AT&T reward card class action lawsuit is Witte v. AT&T Services, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-00274, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
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340 thoughts onAT&T class action over reward cards consolidated, dismissed
I had a similar situation where I was supposed to get 2 $250 gift cards for transferring my daughter’s and my wireless phone service to AT&T. I was also told by the salesperson who showed up making this offer on the day the technician was there to install fiber internet Gateway that the new phones we would receive would be “free” if we turned in our old phones from Verizon. I had asked about being locked for a certain time period to pay off new phones. I was told the gift cards would come after our old phones were received, yada yada, but they never came. Customer service wouldn’t help nor the Reward Center. Luckily, being a school librarian paid off and I was able to locate email addresses for higher-ups. A very nice woman from AT&T called me and she arranged the reward cards to be sent to me in lieu of the amount of the cards being deducted monthly over the number of months it would take to pay for the “free” phones. She also left the reduced payment amount in place as an apology. Unfortunately, the small amount taken off the bill still doesn’t cover the cost of the phone. So if I leave AT&T, I will still have to pay whatever remainder is left on the phones if they are not paid off.
I was promise $300 for signing up with AT&T and DirectTV . The person told me the the promotion has expired.
On 9/17/23, I purchased ‘NFL Network’ via YouTube TV for $400 because DirecTV was offering a $400 VISA gift card to any members that maintained active service for 60 days after doing so. This was being offered since they had lost rights to NFL games and they didn’t want to lose their loyal customers that had previously purchased their own NFL network bundle. I received an email from ‘DIRECTV Reward Center’ stating… “Watch your inbox! After you have had active service for 60 days, you will receive an email with instructions on how to claim your
reward. As a reminder, you must maintain active service through reward fulfillment.” I never received an email, nor in the mail, and so I called today, 1/31/24, to find out the status. I’m then told that the reward was no longer qualified as I had 30 days to activate it. How was I supposed to activate it, when I never received a 2nd email with instructions! As a result, I cancelled my DirecTV subscription, since this was obviously an unfair and deceptive marketing ploy. Shame on them as we have been DirectTV subscribers for over 20 years.
Att promised me $300 reward card for signing up with fiber, but never received anything. Called them today, saying I passed the promotion period 120 days, today it is day 126. They refused to send me my reward card.
I went with the offer for AT&T because I wanted to watch TV. They had a $200 gift card. This was October 6th 2023. I just paid my bill of 147.28 today. They transferred me twice. They said I had to show proof that I carried a provider for 6 months before I got my card. We haven’t had one in years. So she said I was disqualified to get my card that was on the flyer. I want my money back and out of this two year lie
I similarly was told I’d receive $400 that were ultimately “transferred” to my bill making my bill “low to non-existant by month 3. I was told at that same time I would qualify for 0 down for the Samsung z fold and 2 free A13s handsets (which I had already brought outright from metro 2 months prior [Feb 2022] for my son and husband) and my monthly bill would be around 190 ( if I bring over my 3 lines, which I did. However when I received my first bill I noticed I was betting charged for the “free A13s. So i called and was told to go back to the same at&t agent that initially helped me because “only they can make the necessary correction.” So I went back to the target I bought it from and as it turns out the agent that helped me (on my birthday) was no longer working locally and had moved to Texas! So I got stuck with them. So much more to this AT&T NIGHTMARE not sure if this is the place lol
I was promise $150 and still waiting. I called and they said I am pass 120 days so there’s nothing they can do; even though there was nothing in the terms that said I would have to check with them within that time frame.
Read an AT&T promotion “increase to 2G get a $200 gift card” I was told that I would receive an email letting me know when to expect my rewards card after signing up. I contacted AT&T and was told to wait 6-8 weeks. When this did not happen I called again and was told they knew nothing about what I was talking about but would give me $100 for my trouble (in 6-8 weeks). When this did not happen they again tried to say I was not supposed to get the reward. Eventually, I became angry and demanded my $200.00 gift card! They sent $100 to the reward center and that was it. The 2g was horrible service I eventually cancelled it after 1 year AT&T needs to be taught a lesson.
I was owed gift cardsfrom att and never reviewed them after months of on time bill payed phones payed off and multiple run around with att employees
Mi nombre es Jesus, y yo fui engañodo por at&t una promotion de telefonos que si compraba 5 telefonos nuevo ($5000) me compraban mis telefonos viejo s por $800 cada uno. Que los enviara tan pronto recibiera los nuevo. Yo seguir todos los pasos pero nunca recibi dinero ni descuento, ni tampoco recibi mis telefonos.