Comcast Fined Paltry Sum For Cheating Customers

(RTTNews) - Comcast has agreed to pay a $2.3 million fine to the Federal Communications Commission to settle an investigation into allegations that the company cheated its customers by charging for services and equipment they never authorized.

The Federal law prohibits cable providers from charging its customers for services and equipment they did not request, a practice called "negative option billing."

"It is basic that a cable bill should include charges only for services and equipment ordered by the customer—nothing more and nothing less," said Travis LeBlanc, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. "We expect all cable and phone companies to take responsibility for the accuracy of their bills and to ensure their customers have authorized any charges."

Several Comcast customers complained to the FCC that they were being charged, sometimes significant bills, for services they never requested.