BOSTON — Allegations of false advertising for its long-term cable contracts by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has led Comcast to reach a settlement in which it will pay more than $500,000 in refunds to customers.
According to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Comcast allegedly mislead customers who signed long-term contracts about fee increases that raised their monthly bills more than 40 percent compared to the price that was advertised. The customers were then charged more than $2,000 to get out of the contracts despite changing their cable service to a lower package, the Attorney General's Office said.
“Comcast stuck too many Massachusetts customers with lengthy, expensive contracts that left many in debt and others with damaged credit,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. “Customers have a right to clear information about the products and services they buy.
"This settlement should encourage the entire cable and telecommunications industry to take a close look at their advertisements and make sure customers are getting a fair offer."
According to Healey's office, Comcast agreed to an assurance of discontinuance and will refund customers in the state who had paid early termination fees and will release customers from any unpaid termination fees that have yet to be paid.
Comcast will also change its disclosures on long-term contracts and in its ads to reflect any fees as well as require its sales team to disclose the fees, the Attorney General's Office said.