US network operator Verizon Wireless is preparing to issue refunds to around 15 million customers due to what it describes as 'mistaken data charges'.
The problems were discovered to date back several years, affecting customers who didn't have data plans but were billed for data sessions on their phones. Most of the issues were apparently caused by software built into the mobile phones. Verizon says it's addressed these issues to avoid unintended data charges in the future.
Customers would normally have been billed at the standard rate of $1.99 per megabyte for data access; as a result, most of the credits are in the $2 to $6 range. Current customers will receive a credit on their bill; previous customers will be sent cheques.