What’s the Claim?

Who is Qualcomm?

Qualcomm is a global manufacturer of chipsets which enable smartphones to connect to 4G networks. It also holds patents essential to widely-used 4G technology.

What happened?

Qualcomm is alleged to have abused its position as a dominant company and charged smartphone manufacturers inflated fees to use its technology. This increased costs for smartphone manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, and in turn led to consumers paying higher prices for our phones.

Qualcomm chipset
Qualcomm chipset held between fingers

We estimate that millions of people in the UK are affected – are you one of them?

If you are a UK consumer and purchased an Apple or Samsung smartphone (including as part of a mobile phone contract) in the UK on or after 1 October 2015 you could be due a payment – find out if you’re one of them here.

Why is Which? doing this?

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. We believe that Qualcomm breached competition law and it cost UK consumers millions of pounds, so we are taking legal action against Qualcomm to recover the overpayments made on Apple and Samsung handsets bought since 1 October 2015.

This type of legal action means that, if you’re eligible, you will automatically be included in the claim unless you tell us that you don’t want to be. As it stands, we estimate that, depending on the number and type of phones you have bought, you could be due between £5 and £30. Updates will be posted on the Case Updates page. Further information is available in the FAQs.

Smartphone customers in UK
Smartphone customers in UK smiling and looking at phone

It’s estimated that if we’re successful, Qualcomm is likely to owe consumers about £480 million.

Hand holding cell phone

Am I part of the class of consumers that Which?
is seeking to represent in this claim?

Use our eligibility tool to find out if you might be eligible to be part of the proposed class.

Unfortunately, based on the information you’ve provided, you’re not likely to be part of the proposed class.

Register here to receive updates on the claim.

You are likely to be part of the class that Which? is seeking to represent in this claim.

Based on the information you’ve provided, you are likely to be automatically included as part of the class if the Competition Appeal Tribunal agrees that Which?’s claim can go forward. Register here to receive updates on the claim.

No money is available now and there is no guarantee that money will be available in the future – it depends on the outcome of the case at the Competition Appeal Tribunal








Smartphone
Smartphone displaying Which? website