Cellular phones aren't loved by everyone, such as supporters of the American Association of Retired People - a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that protects the interests of senior citizens. Consumers are enraged at cell phone companies that charge excessive termination fees and they are frustrated when they try to cancel contracts because a cell phone company fails to provide proper service.
The Consumers Union is now calling on the cell phone industry to deliver better service. And in recent years, the Better Business Bureau fielded more complaints about cell phone providers than any other business. The New York State Consumer Protection Board reports the cell phone industry is the second most criticized business in the state.
Of course, cellular phone companies aggressively oppose this new legislation.
Lawsuits
T-Mobile USA, one of the largest cell phone companies in the United States, is facing a lawsuit over the company's early contract-termination fees. The lawsuit, filed in Idaho last year, argues that the company's early termination fees violate consumer protection laws in 13 states. The lawsuit against T-Mobile USA covers over 100 people and is seeking damages of more than $5 million. It was filed on behalf of an Idaho law firm that tried to cancel its T-Mobile service.
Legislation
A recent Superior Court ruling in California found that consumers can move ahead with a class action lawsuit against some of the nation's largest wireless carriers. Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a four-bill package designed to protect cell phone users from companies that lock their customers into long contracts with many fees. In Arizona, a Senate panel passed a bill that lets customers cancel their contracts if the cell phone carrier is not holding up its part of the contract. Proposed legislation may help Massachusetts consumers fight high cell phone termination fees.
Over two billion people worldwide are now cell phone subscribers and several countries have more mobile phones than they have people.
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Cell phones are incredibly popular across the U.S.A. but they are also unpopular - many people refer to them as 'hell phones': they require you to be interruptible, they may or may not cause brain cancer, they're difficult to recycle, have annoying ring tones, and they lead to loud conversations in public places. Cell phone users complain about dropped calls, dead zones, and billing errors, as well as unexpected fees and charges.Until legislation is passed, consumers may be stuck paying expensive termination fees in order to end their relationship with cell phone carriers.
Lawyers are seeking class action status for a lawsuit that would enable them to represent hundreds of thousands of people - people that are entitled to compensation for termination fees. The thirteen states that could be represented are Idaho, Washington, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
