Class Action Accuses Altice, Optimum of ‘Cramming’ WV Consumers’ Bills with Illegal Fees

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action lawsuit claims internet provider Altice USA and several subsidiaries have “crammed” West Virginia customers’ monthly bills with unlawful fees.

Want to stay in the loop on class actions that matter to you? Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.

The nine-page lawsuit says that Cebridge Acquisition, LLC; Cequel III Communications, I, LLC and Cequel III Communications, II, LLC—all of which are owned by Altice and operate under the Optimum brand (formerly Suddenlink)—have levied illegal “network enhancement fees” on West Virginia consumers and overcharged them for “Business and Occupation” (B&O) tax.

“Not only are these fees and charges unauthorized and deceptive, but they also have a significant impact on consumers,” the suit contests. “They increase the cost of the services provided by the [defendants] and go unnoticed by consumers, resulting in consumers paying more.”

The plaintiffs, current and former Altice customers who reside in West Virginia, each claim to have been charged a so-called “network enhancement fee” of $3.50 per month as part of their internet service bills. Though the defendants purport that the fee is charged to “cover the costs associated with improving and upgrading their network infrastructure,” the hidden fee is “crammed” into a customer’s monthly bill after their service has begun, the case explains. The filing also argues that the monthly bill itself exists to cover these purported costs.

Further, two of the suit’s three plaintiffs allege that they were overcharged for B&O tax by the internet service providers. One man’s February 2020 statement showed that he had been charged $1.71 in B&O taxes, but based on the relevant tax rate for his area, he should have been charged only $1.44, the complaint claims.

“This improper billing adds up to a significant amount of money among all the class members,” the case contends.

The lawsuit looks to represent any consumers with West Virginia addresses who were charged a network enhancement fee within the applicable statute of limitations period. The suit also looks to cover any West Virginia consumers who were charged a fee for a B&O tax greater than the amount charged by their place of residence within the applicable statute of limitations period.

Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.