Verizon to issue refunds

LOS ANGELES – Cell phone giant Verizon Wireless said Sunday it would refund more than $50 million to about 15 million customers nationwide who were mistakenly charged for data usage or Internet access they didn’t order.

Most users will receive refunds of $2 to $6, although some customers will get larger amounts, the company said. Current customers will receive credits on monthly bills. Former customers will get checks in the mail.

The Federal Communications Commission reportedly launched an investigation after a flood of complaints from angry customers, some of whom said they repeatedly told the company about the overcharges but kept getting hit with them anyway.

Most were assessed a $1.99 monthly fee for data service they did not order. For example, customers who tried the free demo of an application on their cell phones were hit with the fee. A smaller group was charged for accessing the Internet, even if users mistakenly hit a button, then backed out right away.

The charges began occurring last year and have been corrected.