Van Hollen
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Tuesday that he has obtained a consent judgment against a phone carrier that allegedly billed some customers who had subscriptions through another carrier.
Van Hollen filed a lawsuit against Verizon Long Distance LLC in June, alleging that the company billed Wisconsin consumers for Verizon North services they claimed they used through another carrier, even though they were not Verizon telephone subscribers.
The suit also alleged that billing continued for some customers, even after they disputed the charges with Verizon North.
The consent judgment was made on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Under terms of the agreement, Verizon Long Distance will pay $190,000 in civil forfeitures, statutory surcharges and attorneys fees. The company will also provide full credit and restitution to anyone affected by its actions.
The consent judgment also imposes certain injunctive relief.
As a result of the agreement, the state's claim against Frontier North, formerly known as Verizon North, was dismissed.