T-Mobile to pay $90 million to refund unwanted mobile charges

T-Mobile agreed to refund its customers at least $90 million for placing unwanted third-party charges on phones, the Federal Trade Commission announced Friday.

If approved by a U.S. District Court, the wireless carrier’s agreement to refund customers for so-called “mobile cramming” would resolve a FTC lawsuit that was initially filed in July, when the company was accused of billing customers for unwanted charges, including horoscope, love tip and celebrity gossip services. T-Mobile TMUS allegedly received 35% to 40% of each charge, the FTC said in its July lawsuit, and it was reportedly difficult for consumers to get the refunds they were seeking from the company.

Along with T-Mobile resolving the lawsuit, the phone carrier will also pay additional fines, including $18 million to attorney generals across the U.S. and $4.5 million to the Federal Communications Commission, according to the FTC.

“Mobile cramming is an issue that has affected millions of American consumers, and I’m pleased that this settlement will put money back in the hands of affected T-Mobile customers,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.

A representative from T-Mobile was not immediately available for comment on Friday.  Read More  at MSN