Telecom Disconnect

Find out which telecom companies are under scrutiny for misleading ads.

Oct 24, 2016

Telecom Disconnect

From promises of “unlimited” data to hidden and/or unclear fees that cause enticing flat monthly rates to fall flat, it’s easy to want to throw your phone, TV, and Internet router out the window and flee for the Wi-Fi-less woods. But instead of leaving yourself without any connection to the world it might be better to equip yourself with information about recent actions regarding misleading telecom marketing. At the very least it might help you figure out what to scrutinize before signing up for a supposed advertised deal.


: Comcast Xfinity cable subscribers aren’t thrilled about unclear fees that hike up their TV bills nearly $10 every month. In fact, they’ve filed a lawsuit over it.
: “Unlimited” data plans are no longer a thing as carriers slow down or throttle data speeds after customers reach a certain threshold. After fining AT&T a record $100 million for alleged data throttling in 2015, the FCC reached a $48 million settlement with T-Mobile in a similar case this year.
: Getting a raise seven times the amount you expected — good. Being charged seven times the advertised price for Frontier Internet — bad.
: Can you hear me now? After Sprint failed to make changes to claims that consumers could have the same rate plan for half the price by switching to the company, the National Advertising Division referred the claims to the FCC.
: If the phrase “20GB of limitless data” doesn’t make any sense to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
: Speaking of sense or cents, consumers have filed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T alleging that its GoPhone plans cost 15 cents more per minute than what’s advertised.