Is the AT&T data throttling settlement still open?

No. The claim deadline for the $60 million AT&T data throttling settlement was May 18, 2023, and it has passed. New claims can no longer be submitted.

Who qualified for the AT&T data throttling settlement?

Former AT&T customers who had an unlimited data plan at some point between October 1, 2011 and June 30, 2015, who experienced data throttling and had not yet received a payment from AT&T, were eligible. Current customers who already received an account credit and former subscribers who already received a check were not eligible.

How much did class members receive?

In the prior round of compensation, eligible current and former AT&T customers received an estimated $10 to $23 each, depending on the state where they resided. Exact amounts depended on the number of valid claims filed.

$60M AT&T Data Throttling Settlement (Closed)

Q: What was the AT&T data throttling settlement about?

In 2019, AT&T reached a $60 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission resolving allegations that AT&T failed to adequately disclose that it would slow data speeds for customers on unlimited data plans once they hit a monthly usage threshold — a practice known as data throttling.

By Steve Levine

$60 Million AT&T Data Throttling Class Action Settlement

Updated: June 4, 2026

Status Settlement Closed

Claim Deadline May 18, 2023 (Passed)

Estimated Payout $10 – $23 amount varied by state · from the $60M FTC settlement fund

Proof Required No eligibility based on prior unlimited-plan customer records

What Was the AT&T Data Throttling Settlement About?

A $60 million AT&T settlement was reached with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pay qualified consumers an estimated $10 to $23 each. The settlement resolved litigation originally filed in 2014 by the FTC, which alleged that AT&T did not properly notify customers that their data speeds would be intentionally slowed once they hit an arbitrary monthly data-usage limit — a practice widely known as "data throttling."

In its original lawsuit, the FTC alleged that AT&T's data throttling affected at least 3.5 million customers who had purchased unlimited data plans. Network speeds for these customers were slowed by as much as 80% or even 90%. According to the FTC, affected customers reported nearly unusable network speeds that made GPS, web browsing, and video streaming extremely difficult on their "unlimited" plans.

AT&T agreed to the data throttling settlement terms in 2019. Under the settlement, current customers received credits on their billing accounts, while former subscribers received refund checks. However, not all qualifying customers received payment in the initial distribution, and a large portion (about $7 million) remained to be distributed to eligible former customers who lacked current contact information.

Who Qualified?

Former AT&T customers who had an unlimited data plan at some point between October 1, 2011 and June 30, 2015, who personally experienced the data throttling described above, and who had not yet received a check, cash, or payment from AT&T for the settlement were eligible. Current AT&T customers who received an account credit and former subscribers who already received a check were not eligible.

To qualify, claimants generally had to confirm:

• That they experienced slow data speeds (data throttling) that made it difficult to use data on their unlimited AT&T plan.
• Whether they had already received a payment from AT&T for data throttling.
• The phone number associated with the unlimited AT&T data plan.
• That they were a former AT&T customer.
• That they held an unlimited AT&T wireless data plan at some point between October 1, 2011 and June 30, 2015.

How Much Did Class Members Get?

The exact amount each eligible customer received depended on how many people filed a valid claim. In the prior round of compensation, current and former AT&T customers received between $10 and $23, depending on the state where they resided.

AT&T's Class Action History

This was not the first consumer settlement AT&T has faced. In 2021, a $14 million class action settlement against AT&T was reached over allegations that certain "post-paid" wireless customers were charged a monthly "administration" fee that the plaintiffs argued was deceptive and not properly disclosed. AT&T settled the case without admitting wrongdoing.

In 2014, AT&T settled a matter with the Federal Communications Commission for $105 million over unauthorized third-party billing. In 2016, the company was fined $7.7 million for allowing unauthorized access to customer data, and in 2019, AT&T settled with the FTC for $60 million over allegations it misled customers about its unlimited data plans — the settlement described on this page.

Sources

• FTC Refund Page: FTC.gov — AT&T Data Throttling Refunds
• FTC Press Release: AT&T to Pay $60 Million to Resolve FTC Allegations

Filing Class Action Settlement Claims

Please note that claim forms submitted with fraudulent information are rejected, and false claims may carry penalties under the penalty of perjury. Filing a false claim also harms others who actually qualify. If you were unsure whether you qualified, you could review the official notice on the administrator's website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.

For more class actions, recalls, and refunds keep scrolling below!

Settlement Amount $60,000,000

Case Title FTC v. AT&T Mobility, LLC

Claim Deadline May 18, 2023 (Passed)

Official Website FTC.gov — AT&T Data Throttling Refunds