Consumer Alert: Telephone Slamming

Telephone Slamming

"Slamming" is a term used to describe any practice that changes a consumer's long distance carrier without the customer's knowledge or consent.

Slamming can occur on your:

• Home Phone
• Business Phone
• Cellular Phone

Most Common Examples of Slamming

Slamming done through promotions:

• A consumer may sign up for a contest or any type of promotion, and find that their long distance carrier is switched as a result.  The fine print usually contains the information about switching carriers, but is easily overlooked by the person signing the form.

Slamming from account maintenance:

• A consumer changes data on their phone account such as address, and they find that the long distance carrier gets switched in the process.
• An individual wants to switch only one of their phones to a particular company, but all of the phones get switched.

Consumer Advice

• Never sign anything without reading it carefully.
• If you receive a phone call about long distance service and you are not interested, tell them.
• If someone sends you a letter or postcard "verifying" that you have switched services, notify them that you did not authorize the change.
• Read your phone bill carefully each month.  If you see any unfamiliar names, or charges you cannot identify, call your local phone company and ask them about these items.

What To Do If You Get Slammed

1. Call Your Local Telephone Company
   • Tell them that you did not order service from the new long distance company.
   • Tell them that you would like to be reconnected to your original long distance company.
   • Tell them that you want any "charge changes" taken off your telephone bill.
2. Call The Company That Slammed You
   • Let them know that you will only pay the charges your preferred carrier would have imposed.
   • If the carrier will not drop any additional charges, contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
3. Call Your Long Distance Carrier
   • Tell them that you were switched without your permission.
   • Ask to be reconnected.

If you are unable to resolve your complaint with the company that switched your service, you can file a complaint with the Utah Division of Public Utilities or the Federal Communications Commission.

How To File A Complaint With The FCC

There is no special form to fill out to file a complaint with the FCC.  Simply send a letter, in your own words, to the address below.

Federal Communications Commission
Common Carrier Bureau
Enforcement Division
Informal Complaints and Public Inquiries Branch
Mail Stop Code 1600A2
2025 M St., NW
Washington, DC 20554

The Letter of Complaint Should Include:

• Your name and address, the telephone number that was "slammed," and a telephone number where you can be reached during the business day.
   
• The names of your local and long distance telephone companies and the long distance company to which you were changed without your knowledge or permission.
   
• The names and telephone numbers of the telephone company employees that you spoke with in an effort to resolve your complaint and the dates you spoke to them.
   
• Any other information that you feel would help the FCC to handle your complaint.
   
• Copies of any documents you have received, such as a bill for changing to the unauthorized long distance company, a contest entry blank, or a check.

If you want more information, please contact:

Utah Division of Public Utilities
160 East 300 South, Fourth Floor
SM 146751br> Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6751
(801)530-7622
(800)874-0904
publicutilities.utah.gov

Federal Communications Commission
Common Carrier Bureau
Enforcement Division
Informal Complaints and Public Inquiries Branch
Mail Stop Code 1600A2
2025 M St., NW
Washington, DC 20554
www.fcc.gov