# AT&T Faces Lawsuit over Allegations of Exaggerated Subscriber Numbers
## AT&T is currently under legal scrutiny for allegedly inflating subscriber figures for DirecTV Now, which is now called AT&T TV.
A lawsuit has been filed against AT&T, aiming for class action status, claiming that the company artificially boosted its subscriber counts. The lawsuit asserts that AT&T exaggerated its subscriber numbers by fabricating fake accounts with the knowledge and approval of company management. These actions were part of a comprehensive strategy to portray AT&T more favorably to investors during a challenging period marked by financial and technical difficulties. It is alleged in the lawsuit that AT&T management instructed employees to impose charges for DirecTV Now subscriptions on customers’ accounts without their consent.
The lawsuit includes accusations that AT&T employees linked up to three accounts to each individual customer’s phone number. This practice encompassed individuals who merely provided their phone numbers for a free trial. Additionally, employees are accused of charging customers’ credit cards multiple times without authorization. Some potential customers who received a free trial were reportedly billed for a subscription despite never agreeing to it and explicitly stating their disinterest in subscribing. Allegedly, sales personnel frequently employed fake email accounts in these transactions. AT&T responded to these accusations by telling Bloomberg that they intend to contest the claims made in the lawsuit within the court.
