DC Sues AT&T For Unclaimed Phone Minutes

Suki I submits news that Washington, D.C.'s attorney general has filed suit (District of Columbia vs. AT&T Corp, Superior Court of the District of Columbia), claiming the city has the right, through laws applying to unclaimed property, to unused calling-card balances held in the name of D.C. residents. "The suit claims that AT&T should turn over unused balances on the calling cards of consumers whose last known address was in Washington, D.C. and have not used the calling card for three years. 'AT&T's prepaid calling cards must be treated as unclaimed property under district law,' the attorney general's office said in a statement. ... [That sum] represents some 5 to 20 percent of the total balances purchased by consumers who use the calling cards. States and municipalities have often similarly used unclaimed property laws, known as escheat laws, to claim ownership of unused retail gift card balances." Suki I links also to Reason Magazine's coverage.

Comments

Have to side with AT&T on this one.

[Anonymous Coward]

Much as I hate to do it. I don't see how this works. If a woman is hoping to get laid and goes to a bar and doesn't, does that mean a law-maker has the right to claim her unused nookie in the name of the people of D.C.? The lost-and-found laws should not apply to something like this. What next? When you volunteer to help and no one needs your help, they can draft you and force you to work because your charity was unclaimed? I am confident the DC guys will loose this one. If they win, it'll be just one more article of proof that this country has lost its mind. Also, other uses of such laws as apply to gift-card balances need to be struck down. This is getting ridiculous.