Another class action lawsuit has been filed against Verizon Wireless in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case is entitled Joseph Ruwe, et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. The lawsuit claims that VW violated California state law by charging consumers fixed fees for late charges and reconnections, regardless to the cost of the plan paid for. Customers complained that they were charged a fixed $5 late fee if the bill was not paid on time and another $15 fee to have reconnection restored. So if you have a Verizon Wireless device and missed your payment not only would you be charged once for the late fee but you would be charged another fee just to have the service reactivated. Class members contend that this violates California consumer protection laws that make such flat fees illegal. A $10,000,000 class settlement has been proposed in this case.
Class members include anyone who were charged a $5.00 late fee between June 12, 2003, and July 20, 2012 or a $15.00 reconnect fee between Dec. 1, 2004, and April 26, 2012. The Verizon Wireless Fee Class Action Settlement administrators website has not been developed as of yet but please check back for more updates in the case. Attorneys in the case include a Ms. Shana E. Scarlett and a Jeff D. Friedman.
