:: Consumer Issues

Phone "Cramming" may be the latest scam to hit your telephone bill. Many people are familiar wit the term "slamming," the practice of illegally switching long distance service without your permission. "Cramming" is the practice of adding services to phone bills without the knowledge or consent of the billed party. The services might be personal 800 number, paging services, voice mail, caller ID, Internet services, or call waiting. The charges have no connection with the local telephone provider and generally appear on the telephone bill as would any third party billing. To protect yourself be careful when calling unfamiliar 800, 888 or 900 numbers, especially if instructed to "enter activation code number"; read the fine print before completing any contest form or coupon offer and carefully review your phone bill each month to make sure there are no unauthorized charges.

Complaints:

If you have a question or complaint about any aspect of your telephone service, contact the company first. The PSC expects the company to satisfactorily resolve their customers' complaints. If you're not satisfied with the company's response:

  • Call the PSC at 1-800-526-0017 or

  • Write to Nebraska Public Service Commission 1200 N Street, 300 The Atrium PO Box 94927 Lincoln, NE 68509-4927 or

  • Online Complaint Form

We'll need to know your name, address and telephone number; the telephone company(s) involved and how it responded to your complaint; and a full explanation of your complaint. Sometimes we'll also ask you for a copy of your bill.

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. Customers have the right to use any long distance carrier they choose and to change carriers whenever they wish. If you have been contacted by another long distance company and wish to verify your long distance carrier, call 1-700-555-4141 toll free.

If your telephone is slammed follow these steps:

  • Call your local telephone company. Tell them that you did not order service from the new long distance company, that you would like to be reconnected to your long distance company, and that you want any switching fees taken off your telephone bill.

  • Call the company that slammed you and let them know that you will only pay the charges your preferred carrier would have imposed. If this carrier will not drop any additional charges, contact your local PSC or FCC (Federal Communications Commission). For Nebraska, contact 1-800-526-0017.

  • Call the long distance company you were switched from and report that you were switched without your permission. Ask to be reconnected. You should not be charged for this reconnection.

  • If you are unable to resolve your complaint with the company that switched your service, you can contact your local PSC.

Telemarketing:

  • Calls should be placed only between the hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in your time zone.

  • They must identify themselves, who they are calling for, and provide their telephone number.

  • If you wish not to have this company call you again, request that they put your name on a "do not call list."

    • To stop telemarketing calls before they are made, contact the Telephone Preference Service. This association commercially publishes and markets lists of telephone subscribers who do not wish to receive solicitation calls. To be included on this list, send your name, address and telephone number (including area code) to:

    Telephone Preference Service
    Direct Marketing Association
    P.O. Box 9014
    Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

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