Updated
June 4, 2026
If you had an AT&T unlimited data plan between 2011 and 2015 and saw your speeds throttled, here is who the $60 million FTC settlement paid — the claim window has since closed.
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.
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
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
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
