The FTC did sue T-Mobile in July earlier this year, throwing the accusation of the mobile carrier billing customers for subscriptions to text services such as the monthly horoscopes that cost $9.99, in addition to celebrity gossip updates which customers shunned and did not authorize in the first place. T-Mobile picked up anywhere from 35% to 40% of the charges, despite receiving alerts from customers that they were bogus.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler shared, “Today’s enforcement action demonstrates the Commission’s continuing commitment to work with our federal and state counterparts to protect consumers.When consumers are harmed by carriers’ unscrupulous business practices, we will marshal our collective resources to seek accountability and obtain positive reforms. We are pleased to have partnered once again with the FTC and the attorneys general for all 50 states and the District of Columbia on a settlement that will bring meaningful relief to millions of consumers.”