Verizon to refund $50 million of erroneous data charges

Verizon has agreed to reimburse a total of about $50 million to over 15 million customers, to cover accidental charges that involved application demonstrations preloaded on handsets and fees incurred after users launched Verizon's Mobile Web browser. Most of the affected consumers can expect reimbursements to the tune of something between $2 and $6, this money will be credited to their bills or sent by check if they're no longer Verizon customers.

"We can confirm reports of an FCC investigation into mystery fees that appeared on Verizon Wireless bills costing over 15 million Americans tens of millions of dollars," declared Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau Chief Michele Ellison, in a statement sent to us on Sunday evening.

But the refunds have been a long time coming: "Questions remain as to why it took Verizon two years to reimburse its customers and why greater disclosure and other corrective actions did not come much, much sooner."

More details can be read at ARS Technica.