Man Sues AT&T Over Hidden Charges

Chicago - A man has filed a class action law suit demanding reimbursement by AT&T of over 12-months worth of $5 hidden charges.

According to the suit, filed Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court, Jeffrey A. Hickel -- who owns Jeffrey A. Hickel CPA, P.C. out of DuPage County -- was charged an extra $5 a month on his AT&T phone bill for a service he never signed up for beginning in September, 2007 until about November 2008, when he first noticed the charge on his bill.

The suit did not specify an address for Jeffrey A. Hickel CPA, P.C., but an online directory lists it at 907 Elm St. Ste. 303 in Hinsdale.

After calling AT&T's customer service, Hickel learned he was being charged $5 a month for Network Connections USA, an information service similar to 411. Hickel was able to cancel the service from future bills and representatives from AT&T claimed he would be reimbursed for the past unauthorized charges, the suit said.

After subsequent phone calls and a letter written to AT&T, Hickel has still not been reimbursed for the outstanding unauthorized charges, the suit said. He filed the suit on behalf of himself and others like him.

The seven-count suit -- claiming violation of the Federal Truth-in-Billing Act, violation of the Illinois Public Utilities Act, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, common law fraud, consumer fraud and conspiracy to defraud -- seeks an unnamed amount plus legal fees.