Business ProfileforCricket Wireless, LLC

The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.
 


On May 9, 2024, in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, Third Judicial District at Alaska, the Attorneys General (collectively, “Attorneys General”) of the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin (collectively, the “Participating States”)  entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with wireless carriers, AT&T Mobility, LLC, Cricket Wireless, LLC, T-Mobile USA, Inc., Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, and TracFone Wireless, Inc., (collectively, the “Wireless Company”) which resolves an investigation by a coalition of state attorneys general into these wireless carriers’ deceptive and misleading advertising practices. 

 
The settlement addresses misleading advertising practices. The settlement terms will, among other things, require the carriers to: 

• make all future advertisements and representations truthful, accurate and non-misleading 
• refer in marketing to “unlimited” mobile data plans only where such plans do not set any limits on the quantity of data allowed during a billing cycle and clearly and conspicuously disclose any restrictions on data speed, as well as the triggers for restrictions
• offer to pay for consumers to “switch” carriers only where they clearly and conspicuously disclose the type of fees and amounts that they will pay consumers, the form and schedule that this payment will take and all material requirements that consumers must satisfy in order to qualify and receive this payment
• offer wireless devices or services for “free” only where they clearly and conspicuously disclose all material terms and conditions that the consumer must meet in order to receive the “free” devices or services
• make offers to lease wireless devices only where it is made clear to the consumer that the consumer will be entering into a lease agreement
• make representations that a consumer will save money by purchasing its products or services only where it has a reasonable basis to do so based on comparisons with the prices of comparable goods or services of other providers, or where any material differences between those goods or services are clearly and conspicuously disclosed; and
• appoint a dedicated employee to work with the attorneys general to address complaints filed by consumers
• train its customer service representatives who speak with consumers to comply with these terms and implement and enforce a program to ensure compliance with these terms.

 
The Wireless Companies agreed to pay Attorneys General a total of $4,089,654.00 as divided per instructions from the Attorneys General and paid directly to each signatory Attorney General. Said payment is to be used by the Attorneys General for such lawful purposes that may include attorneys’ fees and other costs of investigation and litigation, or may be placed in, or applied to, consumer protection law enforcement funds, including future consumer protection enforcement, consumer education, litigation or local consumer aid fund or revolving fund, may be used to defray the costs of the inquiry leading hereto, the monitoring and potential enforcement of this Assurance, or consumer restitution, at the sole discretion of each signatory Attorney General.
 
The parties understand and agree that this is a compromise settlement of disputed issues and that the consideration for this Assurance shall not be deemed or construed as: (a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any claims or allegations heretofore made or any potential claims; (b) an admission by the Wireless Company that it has violated or breached any law, statute, regulation, term, provision, covenant or obligation of any agreement; or (c) an acknowledgement or admission by any of the parties of any duty, obligation, fault or liability whatsoever to any other party or to any third party. 
 
This Assurance does not constitute a finding of law or fact, or any evidence supporting any such finding, by any court or agency that the Wireless Company has engaged in any act or practice declared unlawful by any laws, rules, or regulations of any state. The Wireless Company denies any liability or violation of law and enters into this Assurance without any admission of liability. It is the intent of the parties that this Assurance shall not be used as evidence or precedent in any action or proceeding, except an action to enforce this Assurance.
 
Click here to view the states' agreement with Cricket Wireless, LLC