Verizon Wireless `Mystery’ Charges Show Need for Oversight (USA)

According to three Democratic U.S. senators Verizon Wireless’s admission it billed customers for mistaken Internet access shows the need for regulators to oversee mobile-telephone billing practices.

As per the letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski by Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Mark Begich of Alaska, the Federal Communications Commission should remain committed to vigorous oversight.

The FCC is probing Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless company, for charging 15 million customers mystery” fees for data use on their mobile phones.

The FCC started its investigation 10 months back after customers complained about the fees, the FCC revealed in a statement on Oct. 3.

According to reports, Verizon Wireless has put the amount of the overcharges at more than US$50 million in the past two years.

Verizon Wireless which is owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc will refund the amount to 15 million customers in the next two months. The refunding  per customer is between US$2 to US$6.