T-Mobile’s unethical marketing and billing practices often cause consumer confusion and financial harm—casting doubt on the wireless provider’s claims to be a pro-consumer “Un-Carrier” shaking up the industry. The company’s deceptive practices can stick subscribers with hundreds—even thousands—of dollars in unexpected and illegitimate charges, and hit low-income consumers hardest.
Join us in urging Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson to investigate T-Mobile’s unfair business practices. Attorney General Ferguson has ordered the Un-Carrier to correct deceptive ads in the past. But T-Mobile is continuing to make misleading claims and potentially other violations of state consumer protection laws.
To Bob Ferguson, Washington State Attorney General:
We respectfully ask the Washington Attorney General’s Office to investigate T-Mobile. Change to Win Retail Initiatives, a consumer and labor advocacy organization, has submitted a complaint to the Attorney General requesting an investigation into:
T-Mobile reportedly enrolling customers in services without their consent, resulting in unanticipated charges.
T-Mobile’s pattern of unfair debt collection practices, such as giving customers little or no notice before referring a debt to collections and providing collections agencies with inaccurate information.
T-Mobile saying it pays customers’ early termination service and equipment fees, but the company only reimburses eligible customers after they meet a number of inadequately disclosed requirements. Customers who do satisfy these requirements may nevertheless face reimbursement delays or denials.
T-Mobile saying it has no contracts when, in fact, millions of customers who finance their phones with T-Mobile have a month-to-month service contract that is linked to a two-year equipment financing plan. The full balance on the phone comes due if a customer leaves the service early—a penalty, just like the old early termination fees.
Customers deserve transparency and integrity from cell phone carriers, but a growing number of Washington residents are reporting serious problems with T-Mobile’s behavior. Your office has taken action once against T-Mobile’s deceptive behavior, and we are asking that you take action again.