Verizon or Sprint customer? You could get some money back

Back in May, the telecom providers agreed to pay $120 million to settle lawsuits from all 50 attorneys general over “mobile cramming” charges.

Verizon and Sprint settled their case over cramming charges with the FCC this past Spring, agreeing to pay out a total of $158 Million in fees to subscribers and the government.

That illegal practice is called “cramming” since victims’ phone bills are crammed with third-party charges they didn’t ask for-and might not even notice. Sprint customers, meanwhile, can submit their claims at this website and can ask the FCC about their situation by calling 1-877-389-8787. Verizon has included charges for third-party PSMS on its customer’s bills at least till January 2014.

Users who experienced unauthorized third-party charges starting in July 2010 have until December 31 to submit a claim.

Sprint (S) said that current and former prepaid customers (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, Sprint Prepaid, and Assurance Wireless) are eligible for a one-time refund of $7.00.

All the money from those settlements is due to go to customers who were scammed. As of today, Verizon and Sprint are offering the same type of program to their subscribers over the exact same issue. Consumers who were “crammed” saw charges, typically $9.99 per month, for “premium” text message subscription services (PSMS), such as horoscopes, trivia, and sports scores that consumers have never heard of or requested.

Verizon (VZA) says refund amounts may be lower than expected depending on the total number of claims filed.

Both companies no longer pass along these third-party charges and have now agreed to refunds.