HAGENS BERMAN

Date Filed: July 15, 2011

Hagens Berman is investigating U.S. landline telephone providers, including AT&T,Verizon and Qwest, among others, after recent public reports have called into question the companies’ alleged practice of billing residential and business customers for phantom services, a practice known as cramming. The firm also is investigating third-party vendors whose allegedly fraudulent charges have appeared on residential and business customers’ bills.

A recent U.S. Senate Commerce Committee report mirrors charges by other consumer-rights groups that suggest many major landline telephone companies may be complicit in potentially fraudulent third-party charges, which appear on consumers’ landline telephone bills each month.

These reports allege that phone companies pass along billings from third-party companies for services and features never authorized by the consumers. The phone companies, in turn, add on a service charge for the billing service, profiting from the transaction. The U.S. Senate report estimates that the practice could account for up to $2 billion in fraudulent charges annually.

The firm would like to speak with people who have received fraudulent third-party charges on landline phone bills from any company. These individuals may have information that is important for the firm’s investigation.

To contact the firm, click here or click the "Join this Investigation" button at the top of this page.