Telephone Slamming

Have you been slammed by a telephone company? The slam works like this: a telephone service provider informs your local phone company that you have selected it to replace your current long-distance carrier. Without seeking confirmation from you, the switch is made - and wham! - you're slammed.

You may or may not get a call or letter telling you that your phone service has been switched, so vigilance is your best defense. Scrutinize your monthly phone bill. Check the charges. And be sure you recognize the names of all the phone companies listed.

If you've been slammed, call your local phone company immediately. Tell them you want to be switched back to your chosen carrier, and insist any fee be waived or charged to the company that slammed you. You may have to also call your chosen long-distance provider, and the company that slammed you. To foil future slammers, tell your local phone company that you want to freeze your account so that no company can alter your account until you call or write to the them specifically approving the change.

"Telephone service - Don't fall prey to the slam scam," Consumer Reports, October 1996, p. 62-63.

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	Web site coordinators: Jamie Thompson Sandra McKinnon Site evaluation: Cynthia Crawford Last updated: March 09, 2005	Web site established by: Kate Akers Mark Belwood Cynthia Crawford Sandra McKinnon Diana Hammond

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