Purchasers of CTA and Cleartel Calling Cards May Claim Settlement Benefits

NORTH BERGEN, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Clifton Telecard Alliance (CTA) and Cleartel (3901807 Canada Inc.) (Cleartel) announced that they have reached a settlement with plaintiffs in a nationwide class action lawsuit related to its sale of prepaid calling cards. In the lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that CTA and Cleartel distributed or sold prepaid and rechargeable calling cards without fully disclosing the applicable rates and charges associated with those cards to consumers. As part of the settlement, CTA and Cleartel deny any wrongdoing or liability. The parties agreed to the settlement to avoid further costs and uncertainties related to litigation.

The class action, Adighibe v. Clifton Telecard Alliance, et. al. 07 cv 1250 (PGS), remains pending before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey until the settlement agreement is given final approval by the Court. The settlement affects customers who purchased a CTA or Cleartel calling cards in the United States at any time between January 1, 1997 and Oct 29th, 2009. The settlement will provide refund PINs to those people who either submit a PIN number from an eligible CTA or Cleartel calling card, or submit a notarized, written statement declaring that they were the purchaser of an eligible CTA or Cleartel calling card.

If the settlement receives final approval by the Court, members of the settlement class with PIN numbers can submit a claim by accessing CTA's interactive voice response telephone system by either calling a toll-free number (1-888-829-3058) or any CTA calling card access number or customer service number, or by accessing a link on CTA's website or plaintiffs' counsel's website . They must then enter a PIN number from a calling card that was purchased on or before Oct 29th, 2009. Settlement class members without PIN numbers can submit a claim by mailing a notarized, written statement to: Clifton Telecard Alliance, 8901 Kennedy Blvd 3rd FL, North Bergen NJ, 07047; declaring that they were the purchaser of an eligible CTA or Cleartel calling card. Members of the settlement class may be required to provide their names and addresses, and the name of the calling card associated with the PIN number. CTA and Cleartel will then determine whether the member of the settlement class is eligible for a refund based on confirmation of a legitimate PIN and remaining funds in the pool. If eligible, CTA and Cleartel will provide members of the settlement class with a refund PIN.

The plaintiffs in Adighibe v. Clifton Telecard Alliance, et. al. are represented by Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel, Dan Martin; and Emmanuel Ahia & Associates. Class members may contact Class Counsel at (609) 598-2183 or (215) 385-2538. CTA is represented by Arnold & Porter, LLP and Lowenstein Sandler, LLP. Cleartel is represented by Morrison Mahoney LLP.