AT&T’s International Roaming Fees

November 2020: The district court granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement that would automatically provide current customers with a Day Pass (one day of free international roaming) unless they submit a valid claim to receive an account credit instead, while former customers may submit a claim to receive a cash refund for the amount they paid for international roaming calls. In addition, the company agreed to include language in the Wireless Customer Agreement disclosing that customers may be charged international roaming rates on calls they do not answer. A final fairness hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2021. For more information, go to http://www.internationalroamingsettlement.com/.

January 2019: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the company’s petition for permission to appeal the district court’s August 2018 order. (AT&T Mobility LLC et al v. McArdle, Case No. 18-cv-80102, 9th Cir.)

August 2018: The court granted part of the plaintiff’s motion for class certification and certified the class of individuals who were charged international roaming fees for unanswered incoming calls but denied the motion for class certification for the proposed class of individuals whose wireless telephone services contracts barred them from bringing claims for injunctive relief. Later in the month, the company filed a petition requesting permission to appeal the district court’s decision.

2009: A false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against AT&T for allegedly failing to adequately inform customers traveling abroad that they will be charged international roaming charges for international calls they do not accept, voicemails they do not check, and calls they do not place while abroad. The complaint was filed in state court in February and transferred to federal court in March. (Mcardle et al v. AT&T Mobility LLC et al, Case No. 09-cv-1117, N.D. Cal.)