Slam! It conjures up visions of doors crashing shut in your face. But in this instance, it's the door slamming shut on your freedom to choose your long-distance company.Slamming is the name of a practice where consumers and businesses are switched from their long-distance company to another without their knowledge or consent. A slammed customer may lose important service features, may get lower quality service, or may be charged higher rates. More importantly, slamming preempts a customer's freedom of choice.Despite industry and regulatory actions, slamming has increased dramatically in the past year. With more than 700 customer complaints each month, the FCC has identified slamming as its number one complaint. Additionally, tens of thousands of slamming complaints are received annually by local telephone companies and state regulatory bodies.People can be slammed in various ways. Telemarketers often make outrageous claims to get people to switch, or forge their signature authorizing a change. Other times, no ploy is used -the customer is simply switched without authorization. Sometimes slamming is due to clerical errors or spouses changing carriers without telling their partners about the change.These tips from AT&T can help protect you against slamming:If you receive a call from someone asking you to change long-distance companies and you are not sure you want to change, state clearly that you are only interested in receiving information and do not want to be switched to another company until you can review their claims in writing.If you hear an offer that seems to good to be true, it probably is. Ask questions and compare.Get the name, address and telephone number of the representatives you speak with, in case you need to call the company in the future.To verify your long-distance company, call toll-free 1-700-555-4141 from your home phone. A computerized message will identify your long-distance service provider. Check your bill each month to ensure you are being served by the long-distance company you selected. The carrier's name will appear on the billing pages.Think you've been slammed? Call your local phone company immediately and request to be switched back. Contact the company that switched you without your consent. They should reimburse you or credit you for any changes (including switching fees) in excess of the amount you would have paid if the switch hadn't occurred. You may also contact your state attorney general, and the FCC's Information Complaints Branch of the Common Carrier Bureau at the following address: FCC Common Carrier Bureau/Enforcement Division, 2025 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20554, Room 6202. (NAPSI)
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