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Long DistanceCramming: If you've ever looked at your phone bill , wondered what the heck all those charges were, and then paid them anyway, you're a good target for cramming. Consumer confusion over telephone bills turns thousands of consumers into cramming victims each year. In fact, cramming is one of the fastest growing customer complaints filed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). About another long distance subject: slamming, you can read here. What is cramming? Cramming is the illegal practice of placing unauthorized, misleading or deceptive charges on consumers' telephone bills. Often, illegal charges are buried in the phone bill or masked by official sounding names and are easily overlooked by even the most wary consumers.
How do I know if I have been crammed?
The only way to avoid getting crammed is to regularly inspect your telephone bill. Look at your phone bill for charges and services that you did not request or charges defined on your bill in very general terms, such as: These types of charges may be associated with legitimate services, but you're only responsible for them if you have actually authorized the services. How can I keep from being crammed? The following list contains the FCC's top recommendations on how to prevent becoming a crammer's next victim. Review your phone bill carefully every month. Read each line and be sure you recognize the names of all the telephone companies listed. Check to see that their rates are in line with what you were quoted originally. Also look carefully to ensure there are no charges for calls you did not place or services you did not authorize. If a description of a service on your bill is unclear, call the phone company that charged you for the service and ask them to explain the charge and service to you. Before you sign up for any kind of local phone, long distance or Internet service, read all of the forms and promotional information available. Don't overlook the fine print at the bottom and on the back of the literature. Finally, use your power as a consumer to get the best deal possible. If you think you are being charged incorrectly, start shopping for a better service provider. What do I do if I think I've been crammed? If you are a cramming victim, there are a few things you can do. First, call the company that charged you for unauthorized services or fees, and ask them to explain the charges. Request an adjustment for those charges that you did not authorize. Second, call and report the illegal charges to your local phone company and ask them to explain how to remove those charges from your bill. If all else fails, you can file a written complaint with the FCC - however, most complaints are resolved prior to reaching this point. The FCC has the power to levy fines on the offending company.
Complaints about telephone-related issues must be filed in writing to the FCC. Send your complaint to:
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