PLATTSBURGH -- Area residents may be paying excess and unauthorized phone charges without their knowledge.
Devi Currier Momot, chief executive officer of TwinState-Voice-Data-Video, said the company has noticed a big increase in "slamming" and "cramming" charges included in customer phone bills.
"We have to get the message out to our customers, because a lot of them are having unauthorized charges included in their bills," she said. "One (commercial) customer last month had more than $1,000 in unauthorized charges."
On one of the disputed bills provided by TwinState, Enhanced Services Billing Inc., based in San Antonio, Texas, was responsible for 28 disputed charges that totaled $392.60 on one page alone.
The company has an unsatisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau office that serves Central and South Texas, where they had 157 complaints in the last 36 months.
Momot said the problem is more often associated with land-line services and is not as prevalent with cell-phone service.
According to a consumer guide published by the New York State Public Service Commission, slamming is "a situation where your telephone service is switched from the telephone company you have selected to another company without your legitimate authorization."
The commission describes cramming as "a practice where a company places unauthorized charges for telephone and non-telephone related services on your local telephone bill. Some of these charges may appear on your telephone bill in terms that do not clearly state what service was provided, such as enhanced services,' access,' activation' or minimum-usage fees.'"
Both practices can occur in a number of different ways. Those include entry forms for sweepstakes or other contests, surveys, telemarketing, 900 numbers and free offers for other services.
The commission's slamming guide states federal law requires truthful marketing, full disclosure and written or third-party verification to switch providers.
Consumers have the option of placing a Pre-subscribed Interexchange Carrier (PIC) freeze to help prevent an unauthorized change of service provider. However, the consumer can still be slammed by a phone company that rents lines from your preferred carrier and resells that service.
A Federal Communications Commission fact sheet on cramming states its Truth-in-Billing rules require phone companies to clearly state services for which you will be billed. If the bill contains charges from additional companies, they must identify that company and provide contact information so consumers can dispute charges.
The FCC advises consumers to carefully check every phone bill for unauthorized charges. If you spot what you believe is an unauthorized charge, the consumer should call the company listed for that charge.
Many fraudulent companies bill for a number of small charges. TwinState's Karyn Ward said companies often keep callers on hold for lengthy stretches hoping the caller will give up.
Momot said the problems occur more often with larger service providers, who often allow numerous additional service providers access to their lines. Local companies such as Westelcom and PrimeLink don't allow access to as many resellers as the major companies do, she said.
Momot said targets are not just large companies, but everyday people who have a land-line phone.
"We hate to see companies take advantage of perfectly innocent people," she said.
dheath@pressrepublican.com
Local News
Is your phone bill cheating you?
Some local customers 'slammed' and 'crammed"
- Local News
-
-
Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts
The district is starting its new budget process almost $2 million in the hole. Officials are seeking public input on the problem.
-
One injured in Plattsburgh house fire
A female suffered second- and third-degree burns in a fire at her South Catherine Street home early Sunday.
-
Plattsburgh's Sweet Adelines sing music of the heart
Sweet Adelines spread message of love on Valentine's Day with yearly singing valentines.
-
Love between the lines
Dr. Nell Irvin Painter of New Russia and Plattsburgh State's Dr. J.W. Wiley share historical and current viewpoints on interracial loving, American-style.
-
NCCS wins CVAC cheerleading competition
NCCS wins first place for the eighth time in nine years
-
Tentative contract reached with officers
The deal with New York state would cover the 2,800 members of the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association who typically work at specialized state centers such as the Sunmount Development Disabilities Services Office in Tupper Lake.
-
Lookback: Feb. 13-19
News stories from around the region from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago this week.
-
Of Interest: Feb. 13, 2012
Peru Central School Board to hold budget discussion; Dannemora to discuss highway post; Beekmantown School Board invites budget input; Willsboro School Board to discuss policies; Chazy School Board to discuss budget; SLCS Board to appoint clerk pro-tem; Keeseville Zoning Board cancels meeting; Elizabethtown-Lewis School Board to work on budget.
-
Gourds' shapes create interesting canvas
Georgette Bacon's gourd art is on display through March 10 at Foothills ARTSociety in Malone.
- February 12, 2012
-
NCCS wins CVAC cheerleading competition
NCCS wins first place for the eighth time in nine years
-
One injured in Plattsburgh house fire
A female suffered second- and third-degree burns in a fire at her South Catherine Street home early Sunday.
-
Plattsburgh's Sweet Adelines sing music of the heart
Sweet Adelines spread message of love on Valentine's Day with yearly singing valentines.
-
Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts
The district is starting its new budget process almost $2 million in the hole. Officials are seeking public input on the problem.
-
Tentative contract reached with officers
The deal with New York state would cover the 2,800 members of the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association who typically work at specialized state centers such as the Sunmount Development Disabilities Services Office in Tupper Lake.
-
Attempted-murder trial set
The case against Robert J. McCann, who is charged with trying to kill his former girlfriend at a secluded Westville site, begins Tuesday in Franklin County Court.
-
A historic battle for interracial marriage
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all remaining state bans on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia.
-
Fireworks to close weekend carnival
The final day of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is filled with activities and events. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
Arts and economic development discussed
A success story about a theater in Glens Falls underscored the importance of the arts at a presentation put on by Partnership for Community Development in Plattsburgh.
-
Ticonderoga faces severe school cuts
- Recent Article Comments
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
