Verizon’s $100 million administrative-charge settlement was real, but the claims process is closed. The deadline to submit a claim was April 15, 2024. As of 2026, only people who filed timely, valid claims can generally receive a payment.
The settlement did not guarantee every customer $100. The published formula called for an initial $15 allocation plus $1 for each qualifying month, capped at $100 per account. Payments could be reduced after approved costs and a pro-rata adjustment.
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What the Verizon settlement was about
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, agreed to create a $100 million gross settlement fund to resolve litigation over allegedly inadequate disclosures concerning recurring Administrative Charges and Administrative and Telco Recovery Charges.
Verizon denied the allegations and did not admit wrongdoing. The fund was also not a universal Verizon rebate or a dollar-for-dollar refund of every administrative fee customers paid. Attorneys’ fees, settlement administration costs, incentive awards and other court-approved expenses could be paid from the fund.
See the settlement motion and proposed notice for the settlement terms.
Who may have qualified?
The settlement class generally covered current and former individual Verizon customers in the United States whose last known billing address was in the U.S. and who:
- Had postpaid wireless or data service;
- Were charged and paid an Administrative Charge and/or Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge; and
- Paid the qualifying charge between January 1, 2016, and November 8, 2023.
Simply having Verizon service was not enough. Prepaid customers were not the ordinary target of this class definition, and a current Verizon account was not required. Former customers could qualify if their account otherwise met the criteria.
People who opted out did not receive settlement money but generally retained rights relating to the released claims. Class members who did nothing generally received no payment and, once the settlement became final, were bound by the release of covered claims.
How much was the payment?
The published initial allocation was:
- $15 per valid claimant account;
- Plus $1 for each qualifying month; and
- An initial maximum of $100 per account.
The final amount could be lower because the settlement fund could be reduced by approved deductions and allocated pro rata if the fund was insufficient to cover all valid claims and expenses. Therefore, “up to $100” was a maximum under the initial formula—not a guaranteed payment.
How to check whether your payment was issued
- Search your email and mail. Search for “Verizon Administrative Charge Settlement,” “settlement administrator,” “claim confirmation,” “payment,” “notice ID” and “confirmation code.” Check spam, junk, promotions and archived folders, along with email accounts you used in 2024.
- Find your claim information. Look for a notice ID, claim ID, confirmation code, filing acknowledgment or the original settlement letter.
- Use the official settlement channel. Type the settlement website address manually or follow the address printed in your original court notice. Use the claim information provided there if an official status tool is available. Do not rely on an unsolicited text or email link.
- Check the payment method you selected. Review the relevant bank account for an electronic payment, check Zelle activity tied to the applicable email address or phone number, and inspect your mailbox and forwarding address for a paper check. Also check old accounts if you changed banks or phone numbers.
- Contact the settlement administrator. Use only the phone number, email address or mailing address listed in the official settlement materials. Ask whether your claim was accepted, rejected, paid, returned or reissued.
Reports said distributions began in 2025 and could include direct deposit, Zelle and mailed checks. Those reports do not establish that every valid claimant has been paid, so unresolved cases should be verified with the administrator rather than with ordinary Verizon customer service. Tom’s Guide reported on the distribution methods and status-check process.
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If you filed but never received a confirmation
A missing confirmation does not by itself prove that a claim was invalid. The confirmation may be in an old email account, spam folder or a mailed notice sent to a former address. Other possibilities include an unsuccessful submission, rejection or a request for additional verification.
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If your payment is missing, returned or expired
- Confirm that your mailing address and selected electronic payment account were correct.
- Ask the administrator whether a check was returned as undeliverable or whether an electronic payment failed.
- Ask what replacement or reissue process applies to your claim.
- Keep copies of emails, letters, checks and administrator correspondence.
Do not deposit a check that appears altered or arrives with suspicious instructions. Settlement materials state that uncashed or undeliverable payments may be treated as unclaimed property; the administrator must provide the applicable reissue guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to avoid settlement scams
A legitimate settlement payment should not require an upfront “release,” “processing” or “tax” fee. Treat these as warning signs:
- A message creates urgency or threatens that your payment will immediately be forfeited;
- A shortened, misspelled or unfamiliar web address;
- A request for your Verizon password, Social Security number or complete bank login;
- A request to send money back; or
- A payment method you did not select.
Do not click an unsolicited payment link. Navigate independently to the official settlement source or use the contact information in your original notice. A message containing your name is not proof that it is genuine.
Can you still file a new claim?
Not through the ordinary claims process. The published deadline was April 15, 2024, and it has passed. Contacting the administrator may help check an existing claim, correct delivery information or resolve an issued payment, but it does not create a new claim.
Be especially cautious of websites, callers or texts promising to submit a late claim for a fee. Verizon customer support cannot generally override the settlement deadline.
What if you want to pursue Verizon separately?
The settlement notice explained that class members who filed a claim and remained in the class released covered claims once the settlement became final. Those who opted out generally preserved the ability to pursue covered claims but gave up the settlement payment. The effect depends on the settlement terms and individual circumstances, so this is not a substitute for personalized legal advice.
For claim-specific questions, the settlement administrator—not a random lookup site, unsolicited caller or ordinary Verizon billing representative—is the appropriate source.
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