Verizon Class Action Settlement: $100M Fund, Fully Paid Out
For years, Verizon postpaid customers paid a monthly "Administrative Charge" — later renamed the "Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge" — that a lawsuit called an undisclosed, bait-and-switch fee tacked onto advertised prices. Verizon denied wrongdoing but agreed to a $100 million settlement covering charges from January 1, 2016 through November 8, 2023. Checks and deposits finally went out starting January 6, 2025, but a huge number of claims and tens of millions in attorney fees meant most people got single-digit payouts instead of the advertised $100 maximum. As of August 2026, this settlement is closed to new claims and effectively wound down — here's what actually happened, and what (if anything) is still open.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Claimed
The case, Esposito, et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, argued that Verizon advertised its postpaid wireless and data plans at one price, then added a separate, mandatory "Administrative Charge" (renamed the "Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge" in 2023) that plaintiffs said was not adequately disclosed and functioned as a hidden price increase rather than a pass-through of real regulatory costs. The charge applied to postpaid wireless and data customers between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023. Verizon denied any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve the litigation for $100 million rather than continue fighting it in court.
Case Details
Esposito, et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, Docket No. MID-L-6360-23, Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Middlesex County. Settlement administrator: Angeion Group — official website verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com, phone (844) 689-0186, mail: Verizon Administrative Charge Settlement, c/o Angeion Group, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Current Status: Paid Out and Closed
Who Was Eligible — and Can You Still File?
The settlement class covered current and former Verizon postpaid wireless and data customers who were charged the Administrative Charge or Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023. Prepaid customers, business accounts, and government accounts were excluded. The claim deadline was April 15, 2024, and it has passed — no new claims are being accepted, and there is no reopened or extended filing window. If you were a Verizon postpaid customer during that period and never filed, this settlement is closed to you; the newer, still-active Verizon litigation described below is separate.
How Much Did People Actually Get?
Timeline: From Lawsuit to (Underwhelming) Payout
- 1
2023 — Lawsuit filed over the Administrative Charge
Plaintiffs sue Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless in New Jersey state court, alleging the monthly "Administrative Charge" (renamed "Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge" that year) was an undisclosed, deceptive add-on to advertised prices.
- 2
Late 2023/early 2024 — $100 million settlement reached
The parties agree to resolve the case for $100 million, covering postpaid customers charged the fee from January 1, 2016 through November 8, 2023. Verizon denies wrongdoing throughout.
- 3
February 20 – March 22, 2024 — Opt-out, objections, fairness hearing
The opt-out deadline (Feb 20) and objection deadline (Feb 26) pass, and the court holds a fairness hearing on March 22, 2024 to weigh final approval of the settlement.
- 4
April 15–26, 2024 — Claims close, court grants final approval
The window to file a claim closes on April 15. The court grants final approval on April 26, 2024, but one objector's appeal keeps the settlement from taking effect immediately.
- 5
September 20, 2024 — Settlement becomes effective
The last remaining appeal is withdrawn, clearing the way for the settlement to take effect and for Angeion Group to begin calculating final, pro-rata payment amounts.
- 6
January 6, 2025 — Payments begin, and disappoint
Distribution starts via direct deposit, Zelle, prepaid Mastercard, and mailed checks. Instead of the advertised up-to-$100, most claimants report receiving between $2 and $14 after pro-rata reduction. By August 2026, distribution is complete and the case is closed to new claims.
Scam Alert: Fake Verizon Settlement Messages
Because this case touched tens of millions of current and former Verizon customers, it — and Verizon's brand generally — has been a repeat target for settlement scams. Three patterns to know:
"Pay a fee to unlock your Verizon settlement payment"
The real settlement never required any payment, fee, or gift card to release a check or deposit. Anyone contacting you asking for money, banking passwords, or gift card codes to "process" or "release" a Verizon settlement payment is running a scam, not the real administrator. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Texts or emails claiming you can still "sign up" for the $100M settlement
The claim deadline was April 15, 2024, and it has not been reopened. Any message urging you to "click here to join" or "file now" for this specific settlement in 2026 is either stale spam or a phishing attempt — never enter your Social Security number, bank account, or Verizon login on a page you reached through an unsolicited text or email.
Copycat sites impersonating the official settlement page
The only legitimate settlement website is verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com, run by court-appointed administrator Angeion Group. If you get a settlement notice, type that address into your browser yourself instead of clicking a link, and verify by calling the administrator's published number, (844) 689-0186.
Verizon Class Action Settlement FAQ
Is there still time to file a Verizon administrative charge settlement claim?
No. The claim deadline was April 15, 2024, and it has passed with no extension or reopening. If you were a Verizon postpaid customer between January 2016 and November 2023 and didn't file by then, you're not eligible for a payment from this fund.
How much money did people actually receive?
Far less than the advertised maximum. The formula was a $15 base plus $1 per month charged, capped at $100 — but pro-rata reduction from an unexpectedly high number of valid claims pushed most real payments down into the $2 to $14 range, commonly reported around $7–$11.
When did Verizon settlement payments go out?
Distribution began on January 6, 2025, after the settlement became effective on September 20, 2024 (once the last appeal was withdrawn). Payments went out by direct deposit, Zelle, prepaid Mastercard, and mailed check through 2025.
Is verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com legit?
Yes. It's the official settlement website operated by court-appointed administrator Angeion Group. You can reach the administrator at (844) 689-0186 or by mail at 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Is there a new or different Verizon class action lawsuit in 2026?
This specific $100 million settlement is closed, but Verizon and its brands face other, separate, earlier-stage litigation as of 2026 — including data-breach claims tied to prepaid brand Total Wireless and its identity-verification vendor, and an unresolved lawsuit alleging Verizon shared customer data with third parties without consent. None of these had reached a settlement or opened a claims process as of this writing, so there is nothing to file for right now.
What's the difference between this settlement and the TracFone settlement?
They're separate cases. This page covers the $100 million Administrative Charge settlement for Verizon postpaid customers (Esposito v. Cellco Partnership). The TracFone data breach settlement is a different case covering Verizon's prepaid brands (TracFone, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, Net10, Walmart Family Mobile) over a 2021 data breach, run through its own official site with its own deadlines.
I got a text or email about a Verizon settlement check — is it real?
Be skeptical by default. The real settlement never asks for payment, banking passwords, or your full Social Security number to "release" funds, and the claim window for this case closed in April 2024. If in doubt, don't click any link — go directly to verizonadministrativechargesettlement.com or call the administrator's official number to verify.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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