If you had an AT&T unlimited data plan, you may be owed part of a $60 million settlement the carrier agreed to in order to resolve claims it failed to properly notify customers their data speeds were being intentionally reduced.
In a 2014 lawsuit, the US Federal Trade Commission that said at least 3.5 million AT&T customers with unlimited plans had their data speeds slowed when they hit a monthly limit, a practice known as "throttling."
Some network speeds declined 80% to 90%, the FTC said, with users reporting that video streaming, web browsing and even GPS navigation "became difficult or nearly impossible to use."
In a statement to CNET, an AT&T spokesperson said the company disputes the agency's allegations but elected to settle "rather than continue with drawn-out litigation."
As part of a deal struck in 2019, current subscribers were given a credit on their accounts and many former subscribers were mailed refund checks. But AT&T still needs to disburse roughly $7 million to former customers it didn't have contact information for.
Read on: What Is a Class Action Settlement?
Who is eligible for money from the AT&T settlement?
According to the FTC, payments are still available to consumers who meet these three requirements:
- You are a former AT&T customer who had an unlimited data plan at some point between Oct. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2015.
- You experienced data throttling.
- You didn't already receive a credit or check from AT&T relating to the settlement.
Current AT&T customers should have received a credit on their account and aren't eligible for this offer. Former customers who already received a check from AT&T are likewise ineligible.
How much could I get from the AT&T settlement?
An FTC spokesperson said the amount individual customers receive will depend on how many people file a valid claim.
In the initial round of compensation, current and former AT&T customers received between $10 and $23, depending on what state they lived in.
How do I claim money?
The FTC has an online claim form for eligible former customers.
You can also request a claim form or ask questions by calling 877-654-1982 or emailing info@ATTDataThrottling.com.
The deadline to submit a claim is May 18, 2023.
For more on settlements, see if you qualify for money from Apple's $50 million keyboard payout.