(The Center Square) – Colorado is set to receive $147,408 from a multi-state settlement with several wireless carriers over deceptive offers.
The state’s portion of the settlement is part of a $10.25 million national total to be paid out by AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Cricket, T-Mobile, Cellco Partnership and TracFone Wireless, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office announced.
“The Attorneys General allege that the Wireless Companies have advertised some of their wireless products and services in various media … without clearly and conspicuously disclosing all of the material terms and conditions of their offers and, in some cases, failing to disclose or misrepresenting the material terms and conditions of their offers,” the settlement says.
Among the deceptive offers alleged were so-called “free” phones, incentives for switching services, and unlimited data ads. While the companies admit no wrongdoing as part of the settlement, they must now “make all advertisements or representations to consumers truthful, accurate and non-misleading.”
“For too long, wireless carriers have failed to live up to the misleading claims in their ads,” Weiser said in a statement. “This bipartisan work across all 50 states to hold carriers accountable for their deceptive marketing will give consumers clearer, more honest information about what they are getting for their money from these companies.”
The settlement funds can be used for restitution, consumer fraud enforcement, or efforts to educate consumers, Wieser’s office said.