RE: Butch, write here

[Guest guest]

www.fcc.gov/slamming

 

Slamming

" Slamming " is the illegal practice of changing a consumer's telephone

service - local, intralata service, or interlata service (including state to

state, in state and international long distance) - without permission. The

Commission's slamming liability rules provide a remedy if you've been

slammed and take the profit out of slamming for telephone companies. The

FCC's Enforcement Bureau will also take action against slammers. These rules

apply to slamming violations that occur on or after November 28, 2000. (For

slamming violations that occurred before that date, you can still file a

complaint with the Commission. See information telephone number listed

below.)

 

 

What Are Your Rights If You Have Been Slammed?

 

You may file a complaint with the relevant state agency or with the

FCC (see below).

 

If you find that you have been slammed, and you have NOT paid the bill

of the carrier who slammed you:

 

a.. You do not have to pay anyone for service for up to 30 days

after being slammed, neither your authorized telephone company (the company

you actually chose to provide service) nor the slamming company.

 

b.. You must pay any charges for service beyond 30 days to your

authorized company, but at that company's rates, not the slammer's rates.

 

If you HAVE paid your phone bill and then discover that you have been

slammed:

 

a.. The slamming company must pay your authorized company 150% of

the charges it received from you.

 

b.. Out of this amount, your authorized company will then reimburse

you 50% of the charges you paid to the slammer.

 

c.. For example, if you were charged $100 by the slamming company,

that company will have to give your authorized company $150, and you will

receive $50 as a reimbursement.

 

d.. The r also has the option of asking the authorized

carrier to re-rate the unauthorized carrier's charges.

 

With these rules, the Commission has taken the profit out of slamming

and protected consumers from illegal charges.

 

 

What Can I Do If I've Been Slammed?

 

If your telephone company has been changed without your permission:

 

a.. If you choose to call the slamming company to request that the

problem be fixed, and you have not yet paid, tell the slamming company that

you will not pay for the first 30 days of service.

 

b.. Call your authorized company (local or long distance) to inform

them of the slam. Tell them that you want to be reinstated to the same

calling plan you had before the slam. Tell them that you want all " change of

carrier charges " (charges for switching companies) removed from your bill.

 

c.. File a complaint with the appropriate government agency. See the

next section.

 

 

How do I File a Complaint?

 

See if your state is listed below. If it is, click on the state name

to get directions on how to file your complaint. These states and

commonwealths have agreed to handle your complaint.

 

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wyoming

District of Columbia

Puerto Rico

 

 

 

If your state is not listed above, then send an e-mail or written

complaint to the FCC. Here is the address:

 

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau

445 12th Street S.W.

Washington, DC 20554

 

E-mail: slamming

 

Be sure to include this information:

 

a.. your name, address and phone number

b.. phone number that was slammed

c.. your email address

d.. name of the phone company that slammed you

e.. name of your authorized local phone company

f.. name of your authorized long distance company

g.. a complete statement of the facts

h.. COPIES of your phone bill showing the charges that you are

disputing

(Important: if you file using e-mail, your bill must be attached,

electronically, to your e-mail. Otherwise, you must file by letter and

attach paper copies of your bill)

i.. whether or not you have paid any of the disputed charges

j.. the specific relief that you want.

 

Still Have Questions?

 

For futher information contact the FCC's Consumer Center at

1-888-CALLFCC (voice) or 1-888-TELLFCC (TTY).

 

 

 

Janine Phariss

www.BlueSageNaturals.com

Fade scars, relieve pain, clear up eczema!