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Hagens Berman LLP Investigates Residential Landline Telephone Providers

^{Published on 2011-07-15 11:00:26 - Market Wire}
 

SEATTLE--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Hagens Berman, a consumer-rights class-action law firm, today announced that it is investigating U.S. landline telephone providers, including AT&T (NYSE:T), Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and Qwest (now CenturyLink) (NYSE:CTL), among others, after recent public reports have called into question the companiesa™ alleged practice of billing residential customers for phantom services, a practice known as cramming. The firm also is investigating third-party vendors whose allegedly fraudulent charges have appeared on residential customersa™ bills.

A recent U.S. Senate Commerce Committee report mirrors charges by other consumer-rights groups that suggest many major landline telephone companies may be complicit in potentially fraudulent third-party charges, which appear on consumersa™ landline telephone bills each month.

These reports allege that phone companies pass along billings from third-party companies for services and features never authorized by the consumers. The phone companies, in turn, add on a service charge for the billing service, profiting from the transaction. The U.S. Senate report estimates that the practice could account for up to $2 billion in fraudulent charges annually.

The firm would like to speak with people who have received fraudulent third-party charges on landline phone bills from any company. These individuals may have information that is important for the firma™s investigation.

To learn more about the investigation or to tell the firm about your experience with third-party billing, visit [ www.hbsslaw.com/thirdpartybilling ]. You can also call the firm at 206-623-7292 or email an attorney at [ thirdpartybilling@hbsslaw.com ].

About Hagens Berman

Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is one of the top class-action law firms in the nation, with offices in Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1993, we represent plaintiffs in class actions and multi-state, large-scale litigation that seek to protect the rights of investors, consumers, workers and whistleblowers. More information about the firm is available at [ www.hbsslaw.com ].