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Verizon’s $100 Million Fee Settlement: What Actually Happened?
Verizon got nailed with a class action lawsuit for quietly slipping “administrative fees” onto customer bills. If you had a postpaid plan anytime between 2016 and 2023, you might’ve been owed a slice of a $100 million payout—and not even realized it.
What Set This Off
Verizon’s been charging something called an “Administrative Charge” for years. It sounds official. Necessary, even. But here’s the problem: the fee wasn’t clearly disclosed when people signed up. It wasn’t included in advertised prices either. Customers would agree to a $70 monthly plan, then look at their bill and see it ballooned to $75 or more—with no clear explanation.
The lawsuit claimed that Verizon tacked on these fees, adjusted them over time, and didn’t give people a fair shot at opting out or even understanding them. It wasn’t about whether Verizon provided the service. It was about trust and transparency—people didn’t like being charged without knowing why.
Verizon, to be clear, didn’t admit guilt. But they agreed to settle for $100 million. That’s not nothing.
Who Got Paid and Why
This wasn’t just for anyone with a Verizon number. The settlement covered postpaid customers—people who got billed monthly after using the service—between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023. If someone had a prepaid plan, they were out of luck. The case was laser-focused on recurring monthly bills with hidden fees.
The real kicker? Some customers could have received up to $100, depending on how long they were with Verizon and how many fees they’d been hit with. If someone used Verizon all seven years and didn’t skip a month, they were probably toward the high end. Most people were in the $15–$50 ballpark.
The Deadline Came and Went
The window to claim a payment closed on April 15, 2024. People could file online through a site—verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com—or print a form and mail it in. The process was simple, but like most class actions, many probably ignored the email or thought it was a scam.
And yeah, a lot of people did wonder if those emails were legit. They were. But phishing scammers also saw a golden opportunity and started imitating the real settlement emails. The official site was the only safe place to go.
When Did the Money Show Up?
Some payments started going out as early as January 2025. People got their money in different ways—Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, prepaid cards, or checks. Zelle and PayPal were the most common.
Not everyone got paid at the same time, though. It depended on when their claim was approved and how they chose to receive it. And obviously, if someone gave wrong info or had an issue verifying their account, that slowed things down.
Why This Case Mattered
This wasn’t just about Verizon. It hit a nerve because “junk fees” are everywhere—airlines, cable companies, streaming services, you name it. It’s the stuff you don’t see in the big, bold “$49.99/mo” promise, but it shows up later on your statement in tiny font.
This lawsuit said, “That’s not okay,” and held Verizon to account. They didn’t change the fee, but they paid for the way they rolled it out.
And it probably made other telecom companies nervous too. No one wants to be the next target.
If You Missed Out
The deadline’s gone. If someone didn’t file by mid-April 2024, that door is closed. And even if they didn’t file, they still gave up the right to sue Verizon separately. That’s how class actions work—unless someone opts out in time, the court considers them covered by the settlement terms.
But there’s still value in knowing what happened. Because the next time a surprise fee shows up on a bill, more people will know what to look for—and might ask the right questions earlier.
What to Watch Going Forward
Don’t expect this to be the last settlement of its kind. Other companies have been dragged into court over the same thing. T-Mobile had similar complaints. AT&T’s had fee-related lawsuits too.
Customers are getting smarter. They’re checking line items. They're not glossing over $2–$5 fees like they used to. Because over time, that adds up—especially for companies serving tens of millions of people.
Also, regulators are paying attention. The FTC and some state attorneys general are actively pushing for clear, upfront pricing. Think of it like the nutrition label on food—no surprises, no fine print.
One Last Thing
This case showed that even the biggest companies can be held responsible for shady billing practices. Verizon didn't crumble. They didn’t even admit they did anything wrong. But they still had to pay $100 million because people stood up and said, “This isn’t fair.”
That’s worth remembering.
And if a strange charge shows up on next month’s bill? Don’t assume it’s legit just because it’s there. Look closer.
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