OLYMPIA — Dozens of Comcast customers filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in the last six weeks, claiming that the company’s Service Protection Plan (SPP) appeared on their bill when they did not consent to paying for the service.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced in December new evidence obtained as part of his ongoing lawsuit against the cable and internet giant revealed that Comcast may have signed up more than half of all SPP subscribers without their consent. Since Ferguson filed an amended lawsuit, the AGO received more than 100 complaints from Comcast customers, including 74 about the SPP. Of those, more than 50 claim Comcast added the plan to their account without their consent.
According to the AGO, Comcast claimed the SPP is a “comprehensive” plan covering the cost of all service calls, including those related to inside wiring. Ferguson’s lawsuit alleges Comcast failed to appropriately disclose that the plan does not cover repairs to any “wall-fished” wiring — wiring inside a wall — which constitutes the vast majority of wiring inside homes. The SPP is currently a $5.99 monthly fee.
Consumer complaints received by the AGO are not necessarily evidence of wrongdoing. However, consumer complaints help inform the Attorney General’s Office about potential unfair or deceptive business practices and allow the office understand the scope of unlawful practices.
Check your bill — if you believe you’re being charged for the SPP without your consent, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.
