Third-Party Cramming Charges Disguised as AT&T Fees
Unauthorised third-party subscription charges — often for ringtones, horoscopes, or premium content — appear on AT&T phone bills, disguised as legitimate AT&T service fees.
Part of: Telecom Cramming Billing Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Phone bill cramming is the practice of placing unauthorised charges on a customer's telephone bill without their knowledge or meaningful consent. Although AT&T itself does not place these fraudulent charges, scammers exploit AT&T's third-party billing system — which allows certain approved content providers to charge customers via their phone bill — to slip unauthorised recurring fees onto statements.
Victims often do not notice small monthly charges of a few dollars buried in a detailed bill. Over months or years, these charges can accumulate into significant sums. The charges frequently appear under vague descriptions like 'premium messaging', 'content subscription', or a company name the customer has never heard of.
AT&T has a third-party billing block feature that prevents these charges entirely. The FTC and FCC have taken enforcement actions against cramming, but the practice persists.
How this scam works on the AT&T brand
Cramming charges typically appear after a customer interacts with a website, text message, or mobile advertisement that includes buried consent language authorising a recurring charge to their phone bill. The customer may not realise they agreed to anything. Some charges are placed entirely without consent, exploiting vulnerabilities in billing systems.
On an AT&T bill, cramming charges show up in a 'third-party charges' or 'other charges and credits' section. They are listed under a business name separate from AT&T, often with a toll-free number that goes unanswered or leads to a difficult cancellation process. AT&T is the billing vehicle, not the charging party.
A related scam involves fake 'AT&T administrative fee' notices sent by text or email, claiming AT&T has added a new charge that the customer can 'dispute' by clicking a link or calling a number. This is a phishing attempt that uses cramming as a pretext to capture credentials.
Common red flags
- Small monthly charges on your AT&T bill from company names you do not recognise
- Descriptions like 'premium messaging services', 'content subscription', or 'third-party services' you never signed up for
- A text offering 'free ringtones' or similar that requires you to reply YES — the reply triggers a billing authorisation
- An 'AT&T fee dispute' email or text with an external link rather than a reference to myAT&T
- Difficulty reaching the third-party company's cancellation line or being put on hold indefinitely
How to protect yourself
- Review your AT&T bill each month — look for third-party charges in the 'Other Charges' section
- Request a third-party billing block from AT&T at att.com or by calling 611 — this prevents any third-party charges from being added to your bill
- Never reply YES to unsolicited texts offering free content — that reply can be used to authorise a billing subscription
- If you find unauthorised charges, call AT&T at 611 and request a credit; AT&T will typically refund cramming charges and block the crammer
How to report it
- Report cramming to AT&T at 611 or through myAT&T and request a refund and block
- File a complaint with the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Contact your state Public Utilities Commission if the issue is not resolved through AT&T
Frequently asked questions
Is AT&T responsible for cramming charges on my bill?
AT&T is the billing intermediary, not the charging party. However, AT&T can remove unauthorised charges and block future third-party billing. Call 611 and ask for a third-party billing block and a refund of unrecognised charges.
How do I stop third-party charges from appearing on my AT&T bill?
Request a third-party billing block — also called a premium messaging block — from AT&T. You can do this through the myAT&T app, at att.com, or by calling 611. This prevents any third-party charges from being added without your explicit re-authorisation.