When you pay a fee to a company, you normally expect to get something of value for it. The complaint for this class action alleges that Charter Communications, Inc. (CCI) charges a self-installation fee for its “free” modems and customer self-installation of its Spectrum Internet systems—in other words, for nothing of value.
According to the complaint, CCI is in fierce competition with Comcast and other companies to offer Internet service to customers. As a way of attracting customers, it says, CCI offers “free” modems, or permits customers to use their own modems, as long as they meet the technical requirements of the service.
Customers can also choose whether they want CCI technicians to come and install the equipment in their homes—which the complaint says “costs upwards of $50”—or whether they want to do the installation themselves.
CCI says that self-installing is “quick and easy.” The complaint says, “All the customer needs is one of [CCI’s] ‘free’ modems … and the ‘step-by-step’ instructions included with the modem and available online through [CCI’s] website.” Customers may be required to go to one of CCI’s stores to pick up the “free” modem and bring it home.
The complaint alleges, “Despite advertising that its modems are ‘free,’ [CCI] charges a one-time self-installation ‘fee’ for new customers of its Internet service.” It charges this fee whether the customer uses one of the “free” modems or a different modem. The complaint claims, “[CCI] provides no service or anything of value in exchange for the one-time self-installation ‘fee.’”
According to the complaint, “If [CCI] decided to charge $9.99 as a one-time rental fee for its modems, then it made a material misrepresentation by simultaneously claiming it was providing its modems for ‘free’ and hiding the true nature of the $9.99 fee. If [CCI] was simply charging $9.99 for providing no service at all, it was charging a fee not authorized by law and making a material misrepresentation by deceiving Plaintiff and the putative class that they would receive something of value in exchange for that fee.”
The complaint implies that the company was attempting to look attractive to consumers by offering a “free” modem and self-installation but then attempting to make money by a charge for possibly nothing.
Two classes have been defined for this action.
- The Store Pickup Class is all persons in California who bought Internet service from CCI and to whom CCI promised “free” use of its Internet modems, but who were charged $9.99 to self-install CCI’s Internet service.
- The Own Modem Class is all persons in California who bought Internet service from CCI and were charged $9.99 to self-install CCI’s Internet service.
Topic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Charter Communications Spectrum Self-Installation Fee Complaint
December 16, 2019
When you pay a fee to a company, you normally expect to get something of value for it. The complaint for this class action alleges that Charter Communications, Inc. (CCI) charges a self-installation fee for its “free” modems and customer self-installation of its Spectrum Internet systems—in other words, for nothing of value.
charter_communications_self-installation_fee_compl.pdfCase Event History
Charter Communications Spectrum Self-Installation Fee Complaint
December 16, 2019
When you pay a fee to a company, you normally expect to get something of value for it. The complaint for this class action alleges that Charter Communications, Inc. (CCI) charges a self-installation fee for its “free” modems and customer self-installation of its Spectrum Internet systems—in other words, for nothing of value.
charter_communications_self-installation_fee_compl.pdf