AG James announces $62.5 million in settlement credits for Spectrum customers

Earlier this week, Attorney General Letitia James announced Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) has started to issue credits to New York consumers as required by Charter Communications Inc.’s settlement agreement on Dec. 17, 2018.

The settlement agreement resulted from an action brought by the office of the attorney general alleging the company failed to deliver customers the reliable and fast internet service it had promised. Under the terms of the settlement, Charter is required to issue monetary relief to qualified subscribers and offer video streaming services, described below, at no charge. In all, qualified subscribers will receive $62.5 million in bill credits.

Subscribers do not have to fill out any paperwork to obtain the credit, but must contact Spectrum to receive the streaming services.

“Today, New Yorkers will start to receive the tens of millions of dollars and additional services owed to them due to the company’s failure to provide quality services to its customers,” James said. “In issuing the largest-ever consumer payout by an internet service provider, my office is proud to set a higher standard for the way that internet providers accurately market services.”

Spectrum will also offer the following streaming services to approximately 2.2 million current internet subscribers at no extra charge:

•Current subscribers who subscribe to both internet and cable television from Spectrum will have a choice of either three months of HBO or six months of Showtime. (Note: This benefit is available to subscribers who do not already subscribe to both of the offered services through Spectrum.)

•Internet-only subscribers will get one month of Spectrum TV Choice streaming service – in which subscribers can (depending on their location) access broadcast television and a choice of 10 pay TV networks – as well as access to Showtime for one month.

Consumers will have until May 30 to select the no-extra-charge premium services they want. Consumers should call Spectrum at 1-833-422-8795 for further information.

The AG said she wants to ensure that all eligible subscribers are able to receive the no-cost streaming services. Her office said, “We encourage subscribers to share their experience redeeming the offer by completing this survey.”

Current internet service subscribers who leased a DOCSIS 2.0 modem on a tier of 20 Mbps or higher or an 802.11n wireless router on a tier of 200 Mbps or higher, or who subscribed to a legacy Time Warner Cable plan of 100 Mbps or higher (as of Feb. 1, 2017), will receive a credit of $75. Further, subscribers who leased a DOCSIS 2.0 modem on a tier of 20 Mbps or higher for 24 months or more will receive an additional credit.