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Identity Theft Victim Sues AT&T for Violating Pa. Credit Laws

AT&T and its debt collector Afni violated the Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act and other statutes when they tried to hold plaintiff Ellen Rubinstein responsible for nearly $1,500 in fraudulent charges on an AT&T account opened in her name…

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by an identity thief, alleged Rubinstein’s complaint Thursday (docket 2:23-cv-01139) in U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. AT&T claimed to have investigated her dispute, only to contact her Dec. 13 with a finding that the fraudulent charges were hers, it said. Rubinstein, a King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, resident “devoted exorbitant time and energy jumping through the various hoops insisted upon by AT&T, yet the telecommunications giant could not bother to even explain why it disbelieved Rubinstein’s sworn statement,” it said. The actions of AT&T and Afni “were knowing, intentional, willful, wanton, and in reckless disregard” for Rubinstein’s rights, it said. The defendants are liable to her “for the full amount of statutory, actual and treble damages,” plus attorneys’ fees and court costs and any “such further relief, as may be permitted by law,” it said. AT&T and Afni didn’t comment.