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posted by Fnord666 on Friday January 17 2020, @04:20AM   Printer-friendly
from the business-as-usual dept.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/01/comcast-accused-of-lying-about-its-prices-gets-away-with-1-3m-settlement/

Comcast has agreed to issue refunds to 15,600 customers and cancel the debts of another 16,000 people to settle allegations that the cable company lied to customers in order to hide the true cost of service. Comcast will have to pay $1.3 million in refunds.

[...]"The settlement also requires Comcast to change its advertising practices to disclose to its customers the full amount that they will be charged for service."

[...]The consent judgment was filed in Hennepin County District Court. Minnesota alleged violations of the state's Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, but Comcast did not admit any wrongdoing.

[...]About 8,400 customers are eligible for refunds of $80 each because they did not receive Visa prepaid cards or other promotional items that they were promised

[...]About 2,000 customers who were charged for a modem but returned the modem within three months will get refunds

[...]Another 5,200 customers who "were involuntarily disconnected or who voluntarily downgraded their Residential Services, and, as a result, paid an Early Termination Fee to Comcast" will get $80 refunds.

[...]"Part of being able to afford your life means knowing the full cost of what you're getting, getting what you were promised, not being overcharged for things you didn't ask for, and not being unfairly charged to get rid of things you didn't ask for. But when people signed up for Comcast, that's what happened to them," Ellison said.

Comcast has already identified the 16,000 customers who will get debt relief, the settlement says. Comcast is required to forgive their debts within 30 days.


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 17 2020, @06:40AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 17 2020, @06:40AM (#944435)
    tldr; Comcast gets away with fraud by promising to give back some money.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 17 2020, @03:34PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 17 2020, @03:34PM (#944554)

      Shame.

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Friday January 17 2020, @02:54PM (2 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Friday January 17 2020, @02:54PM (#944532) Journal

    I mean, it's a really good thing, they didn't do anything wrong here . . .

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 17 2020, @04:58PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 17 2020, @04:58PM (#944591) Journal

      Your experience may differ from mine. In my experience when you hear: "but ${corporation} did nothing wrong . . ."

      it always comes from the right.

      It is followed or reinforced by: we can't have regulations, we can't punish corporations, etc.

      And one astonishing opinion that I heard from a coworker I frequently debated with (usually about Microsoft vs open source) was (paraphrased): if it is profitable then it can't be wrong

      --
      To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 17 2020, @04:59PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 17 2020, @04:59PM (#944592) Journal

        Forgot to add . . . coworker back in about 2002.

        --
        To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
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