Ring-tone revenge: You may be entitled to a refund
Posted
Jan 02 2009, 02:47 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Were you billed unwittingly for ring tones, news alerts, graphics, games and other digital stuff on your cell phone or those of your kids? You have until Jan. 30 to file a claim for a refund.
TopClassActions.com spells out the details for getting your ring-tone revenge. (And while you're at it, bookmark that Web site. It comes in handy.)
A class-action settlement was reached in Gray v. Mobile Messenger Americas Inc. It covers a variety of digital information you may have received from Mobile Messenger or an affiliate no matter which cell phone carrier you used. (If you've already filed a claim for a refund, you can't do it again for the same charges.)
Go to this page at TopClassActions.com to get additional details. But here are a few:
- To find out if and how much you were charged, call (800) 416-6129 or check for these short codes (.pdf file) on your phone bills. TopClassActions.com says, "If the code on your bill matches one on the list, then that's an eligible charge you can claim."
- It covers activity between July 1, 2005, and Aug. 13, 2008.
How did this come about? TopClassActions.com explains: "Those commercials were quite tempting! Flashy graphics, promising your horoscope or a top music hit ring tone daily, automatically to your phone. Unfortunately it would tend to automatically sign you up to receive those ring tones, horoscopes or wallpapers on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, charging you every time."
Bonus tip: Don't count on getting a refund right away. We filed a claim in another class-action suit a year ago and learned that no money has yet been paid.
Related reading:
Yikes! Checked your cell bill lately?
How to fight all those hidden charges
TopClassActions.com: Here's news you can use
5 valid reasons to stop using cell phones
