Around Maryland, Business, Sci-Tech

AT&T, Cricket violated Consumer Protection Act in sales of cellphones during merger; finding upheld by Appellate Court of Maryland

BALITMORE, MD—The Appellate Court of Maryland has upheld a Final Order issued by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division finding that AT&T and Cricket Wireless engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices, in violation of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, when they sold Cricket cellphones that they knew would stop working after Cricket and AT&T entered into a corporate merger …


Business, Police/Fire, Sci-Tech

Maryland 9-1-1 Board warns that 3G network cell phones may stop operating in 2022

REISTERSTOWN, MD—The Maryland 9-1-1 Board is issuing a warning to consumers that older phones may cease operating in early 2022 due to the retirement of 3G networks and support for phones using 3G service. This may include other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smart watches, and home security systems. The nation’s three major …


Attorney General Frosh: AT&T, Cricket Wireless violated Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, ordered to pay restitution

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Tuesday announced that Cricket Wireless, LLC and AT&T, Inc. were found to have deceived consumers into buying cell phones that the companies planned to stop servicing shortly after they were sold. AT&T and Cricket’s actions violated Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, and as a result, the companies have been ordered to pay back …

Major AT&T outage hits Baltimore area

NOTTINGHAM, MD—A major outage at AT&T was affecting many Baltimore-area residents on Wednesday. The problems were first reported between 9 and 10 a.m. and were still being reported as of Wednesday afternoon. Many AT&T customers reported that their mobile navigation apps had stopped working and that they weren’t able to make phone calls or send/receive text messages. Some users reported …

Cell phone store robbed in White Marsh, carjacking reported in Overlea

NOTTINGHAM, MD—Police are investigating two local crimes that were reported over the past week. At just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, an individual entered the AT&T store at White Marsh Plaza, located in the 7900-block of Honeygo Boulevard (21236), produced a handgun, and stole several cell phones. The suspect then fled the scene. At just before 7 p.m. …

Maryland launches statewide text-to-911 service [VIDEO]

BALTIMORE, MD—Effective Thursday, August 20, 9-1-1 call centers across Maryland will begin accepting text messages via text-to-911 service. Customers of the three major wireless carriers (AT&T, former Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) who are enrolled in their carriers’ text messaging and/or data plan can send text messages to 9-1-1 in an emergency when they are unable to place a phone call. …

Attorney General Frosh announces charges against Cricket Wireless and AT&T for deceptive marketing practices

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced on Monday that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against Cricket Wireless, LLC and AT&T, Inc. for violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. Among other charges, Cricket and AT&T failed to inform consumers that the cell phones they purchased would no longer work when Cricket switched cell phone networks after …

Nottingham AT&T store burglarized, stabbing reported in Essex

Police are investigating a robbery, an assault, and a burglary that were reported this week. At just after 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, an individual entered the vacant location next to the AT&T store in the 7600-block of Belair Road in Nottingham (21236). The suspect then broke through the drywall that separates the two locations to gain access to …