Slamming & Cramming
Consumer Protection Tips:
- Always examine your telephone bill thoroughly each month.
- Look for companies you don't recognize and unauthorized services or additional services
you did not order.
- Read and most importantly understand the fine print on promotional mailings you
receive before agreeing to any offer.
- Before you agree to a telemarketer's offer, ask that they send you the information
in writing.
Cramming
What is Cramming?
Cramming is the illegal practice of placing unauthorized, misleading or deceptive
charges on your local telephone bill. The charges are often for non-basic services
such as, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Voice Mail, a one-time charge
for entertainment services, or a recurring monthly charge. These charges are billed
in the “Non-Basic” section of your local telephone bill.
What do I do if I see unauthorized charges crammed in the non-basic section of my
local telephone bill?
The first thing you should do after you identify unauthorized or disputed charges
on your local bill is to contact your local telephone company to file a dispute.
You should attempt to have the unauthorized charges removed from your local bill.
You must contact your local telephone company first to try to resolve the matter.
If you are unsatisfied with the local company’s response, you then have the right
to contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at (800) 782-1110 to file a complaint
for investigation. The Bureau of Consumer Service will investigate your complaint
and respond to you with a decision.
Slamming
What is Slamming?
Slamming is the illegal practice of switching your telephone provider to another
provider without your permission for in-state toll service, state-to-state toll
service, or even International toll telephone service.
What Can I Do If I've Been Slammed?
If toll charges appear on your local telephone bill from a company you did not choose
to provide service, and you suspect you’ve been slammed, call your local company
and tell them you’ve been slammed and request that they remove the toll charges
from your bill. The local company will send the charges back to the unauthorized
service carrier and should remove any “change of carrier” charges (charges
for switching carriers). This way your local service will not be affected. Tell
your local phone company the name of the carrier you want to provide your toll service.
The unauthorized service carrier may re-bill you directly on a separate bill. If
this happens you may want to contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
at (800) 225-5322 or the PA Bureau of Consumer Protection at (800) 441-2555.
What if my long distance has been slammed
If you have been slammed by a long distance company, you should contact
the FCC at (888) 225-5322.
What can I do to help prevent Slamming?
Contact your local telephone company and request a freeze on your account to
secure your toll carrier of choice, which cannot be changed without your expressed
consent. If you later decide to change your toll carrier you MUST first contact
your local telephone company to remove the freeze.
Sliding
What is Sliding?
Sliding, is a form of slamming. It occurs when a telephone company uses a customer's
authorized request for changes to one service, to then add, change or “slide”
the customer to an unauthorized telephone service. For example, a customer may request
to change their long distance service provider. When the customer receives their
telephone bill, they discover that their regional toll service was also changed,
but without the customer’s permission.
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