phone fraud

[mandy7181]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

I need some advice. My mother in law got slammed by a long distance provider. She had signed up for a service that charged 5 cents a minute. She recieved a phone card through the mail claiming to be for that company and the 5 cent a minute charge would apply. When she got her bill she discovered that the card was not through her long distance provider. She had not authorized a switch to another provider. Due to an inability to pay because the charges were so high for the new long distance provider they contacted her local telephone company. She had paid her local telephone bill. The long distance company told her local phone company to terminate services.

My question is: Can they charge you for services that you never authorized even though you made long distance phone calls on what you thought was your long distance company? And can a local provider change your long distance carrier without your permission? And can a local provider disconnect your phone if you dont pay a separate long distance company but do pay your local services.

please help---my mil and fil cannot go without a phone. They have so many health problems.

 

[CaliCat]

No way. They can't switch without permission! What is the local complany planning to do? If push comes to shove, get a phone in your name at their house with the understanding that they pay the bills and do no switching or phone cards of any sort.

 

[nailtech]

cali, its not that they can it's that they do..... it's illegal but like most things thats a given until caught..... most people just switch back instead of pressing charges or persuing it any further... in some states you may not be able to not sure on all states.... But Georgia is one that you can do something about it.....

you will have to contact her phone company and tell them what has happened, they can send you a letter for her to fill out o and sign so no one can ever change her long distance again with out her permission or request a "PIC" freeze on your account...... she MIGHT be able to have the charges taken off since it was a slam..... depends on the phone company she's deals with....... and you might also notice a 5.00 charge for them changing her long distance, you can also have that removed.... they charge each time you change. at least in Texas they will/can...

this link should help you in what you need to know by Georgia law and how to take care of the matter... its pretty specific in details......

edited to fix link: it would not post any other way sorry you may have to copy and paste the link into your browser, it will not work for me tonight....


http://www.psc.state.ga.us/consumer_corner/Slamming.htm]slamming

 

[Jeter]

There are a couple, possibly complex questions to find answers to.

1-What did the long dist company define as "acceptance of service". Was acceptence considered effective upon use of the phone card?

2- Is there domestic service attached to the "acceptance" of the long distance service? There are some Long Dist companies that offer domestic service as well as long distance. Upon acceptance of their service they will take it upon themselves to contact the current domestic carrier and cancel your current service because they are the new carrier of record.


Jeter

 

[knorris]

Same In arkansas

We have had the same problem three times and we were able to stop the slamming by filling out and signing a form from the phone company. hope fully you'll be able to do the same.

 

[nailtech]

it is against the law in Georgia........ and things can be done as the site states, like charges reversed/dropped.....

just wished the link would work....

http://www.psc.state.ga.us/consumer_corner/Slamming.htm

quote from the link.....

If You Have Been Slammed:

Call 1-700-555-4141 (toll free) to verify your long distance provider or call 1-(your area code)-700-4141 to verify your local toll provider.
Tell your local phone company that you did not request a change in your long distance service. Ask the company to reconnect you to your previous carrier and have unauthorized charges removed from your bill.
Call the company listed on your telephone bill as the service provider. Inform the company that caused the slam that you did not request its service, that you want it canceled immediately and that you will only pay the charge your preferred carrier would have imposed. If you have actually paid any charges billed by the carrier, inform the carrier that you are entitled to a refund unless the carrier can provide proof of your authorization for the carrier change, and you want all switching charges removed from your bill.
Call your preferred long distance carrier and ask to be reconnected with no "change charges." Contact the Georgia Public Service Commission, if the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction.
As of July 1, 1998, state law makes slamming illegal in Georgia. Slamming happens when a local or long distance telephone company switches your service provider without your knowledge or consent. Previously limited to long distance service, slamming is on the rise as competition expands to local service and local toll calling markets. The Georgia Public Service Commission may penalize a phone company up to $15,000 for each violation. Additionally, a penalty of $10,000 may be assessed for each day on which said violation(s) continues.

Never sign anything without reading it.
Be wary of telemarketing calls. If you receive a phone call about long distance or local phone service, be sure to tell the caller that you only want to receive information or that you are not interested in receiving the company's service.
Call your local service provider and request a "PIC" freeze on your account to minimize unauthorized changes.
Be sure others in your home understand who is authorized to change phone service.
Read your phone bill carefully each month and report unfamiliar charges to your local telephone company.

Georgia Public Service Commission
244 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-4501
1-800-282-5813
Fax: (404) 656-2341
Email: gapsc@psc.state.ga.us

 

[nailtech]

OK,.... none of my codes are working tonight.. hope everyone figures it out( what is what)........ sorry........