Slamming is switching your carrier without your authorization. If you are slammed, do the following:
First, test your lines with 1-700 test to determine if your chosen carrier is servicing you. If you are being billed on your local phone bill and were receiving a separate bill for long distance, it is possible that the 700 test will indicate your chosen carrier. However, be aware that many resellers use major carriers and bill your calls on your local telephone bill under their name by indicating to your chosen carrier that they were given permission to resell you service. There are various billing services. One of the larger services is USBI. They may bill for hundreds of different phone companies on your local telephone company bill. The bill will often indicate in smaller print under USBI (the billing service), the name of the actual carrier providing you service. Review the bill carefully prior to making calls to correct the problem. (TCS provides support to correct "slamming and cramming" issues, so hours aren't wasted by our customers.)
Once your ducks are in a row, call your local telephone company and tell them you did not order service from the new long distance company. Ask to be reconnected to your original long distance company and ask that any charge be removed from your bill. In some instances, your local company may credit the difference between rates of your chose carrier and the carrier now billing you on the local phone bill.
Now, try to keep calm and be polite when you call the company that slammed you. It is not always the fault of the company that "appeared to slam you". Errors could have been made unintentionally by your local phone company or a third party. Simply advise that you will only pay the charges your preferred carrier would have imposed. The law changes often on what is required to be paid when slammed. However, if at minimum, the carrier will not agree to credit the difference in rate per minute from your chosen provider and their charges, contact:
FCC, Common Carrier Bureau Enforcement Division, Informal Complaints Branch, Mail Stop Code 1600A2, 2025 M St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20554. Provide complete details of the incident and any information that may help the FCC handle your complaint.
FCC Ph. number: 888-225-5322 or click here to file online. |
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