OLYMPIA (AP) — A judge has imposed more than $9 million in penalties against cable and internet provider Comcast after finding more than 445,000 violations of Washington state’s Consumer Protection Act.
The judge ruled Thursday that Comcast violated the law when it charged nearly 31,000 people for service protection plans without their consent.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed the initial lawsuit in 2016, claiming Comcast committed nearly 2 million violations and profited from misleading plans.
The judge ruled that the attorney general’s office did not back claims that Comcast billed thousands for repairs of company-owned equipment or allowed service charges by using certain billing codes.
Company spokesman Andy Colley says the ruling recognized that Comcast has already addressed the issues by improving customer service and the consent process.
The ruling found that Comcast had signed up about 31,000 Washington residents to the plan without their consent.
Additionally, the company did not reveal the true cost of the plan to over 18,000 customers.