Companies to refund mystery cell charges

Jun 25, 2009 1 min read

TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Verizon and Alltel have agreed to refund millions to Florida cell phone customers billed for unwanted third-party services including ringtones, music and horoscopes.

The charges can mysteriously appear with indiscernible names such as “OpenMarket,” and “M-Blox.”

Attorney General Bill McCollum announced the settlement Wednesday. His office estimated Verizon could return up to $24 million and Alltel $6 million, but spokeswoman Ryan Wiggins said it’ll probably be much less because consumers will have to apply for refunds.