Wireless carriers advertise cellular rate plans at fixed prices, but the details of their contracts may include other charges that are not well known to customers. This is essentially what is at the heart of the class action lawsuit against Verizon Wireless. Plaintiffs allege that the advertised plans are misleading because they do not include administrative fees, and further allege that the administrative fee increases were made in a deceptive and unfair manner.

The lawsuit resulted in a $100 million settlement, meaning that Verizon Wireless enrollees or former enrollees who purchased postpaid wireless plans in the past seven years will receive up to $100. This is all subject to the settlement being approved and finalized, and Verizon will then pay into the settlement fund.

Plaintiffs claim that they were misled about the administrative charge, but Verizon told CNET, "We have clearly identified and explained the wireless consumer administrative charge numerous times during the sales transaction and in our marketing, contracts, and billing statements. This charge helps us recover certain regulatory compliance and network-related costs."

Ways to claim your share include.

If you are a current or former Verizon Wireless customer who paid for postpaid wireless service from Verizon (and paid administrative or administrative and telecom cost recovery fees) between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023, you are share of this $100 million Verizon class action lawsuit, you are eligible to claim a share of the $100 million.

Some customers have already received notice of this settlement by email or mail and are eligible to claim. The settlement applies only to postpaid wireless service and does not apply to other Verizon services, such as prepaid plans, since customers pay for service at the end of their cycle.

If applicable, or if you have already received a notice of settlement, you may file a claim by completing the online form. The deadline for filing is April 15, 2024 at 11:59:59 p.m. PT, so you want to submit your claim as soon as possible. To file a claim, you will need your Notice ID and confirmation code, as well as your Verizon account number.

Alternatively, you may physically complete the form and mail it to the following address:

Verizon Administrative Fee Settlement Form c/o Settlement Administrator 1650 Arch St. Philadelphia, PA 19103

Most can expect to get up to $100 as part of the settlement, but there are factors that may affect that amount. Specifically, the length of time they have been a Verizon Wireless customer and the amount of valid claims they have filed. Verizon's most recent fact sheet reports 93.9 million postpaid connections through December 31, 2023.