🚀 go-pugleaf

I'll tell you from first hand experience...if you think your local phone
company is putting the screws to you...don't wait...call the local public
utilities commission.  Give your local (why do you think they are called
local??? (that is a funny)) one chance to say, yes, we'll remove the charge,
if you get ho hum or lack of interest on their part...be sure to make note
of the date/time you called and the name of the rep.  Give it a second try
the next day and again, make note of date/time and the name of the person
you talked too.  And if they won't talk to you, ask for their boss.  Or
should they hang up on you...you should have already noted their name, not
the hangup, call back and ask for a supervisor, if they ask why, tell them
you don't have the time to explain to both them and their supervisor.  And
make sure you note both the person that answer that called and the
supervisors name (don't forget date/time.  If not satisfied that your telco
is going to do anything...call the PUC.

Keep in mind...if the PUC gets a lot of same type of complaints, they are
paying attention, your local is looking for their advantage, not yours.
When it comes time your local wants to raise rates, the PUC will say...gosh,
we show little to no action on these reports of trouble, I don't think you
deserve more money.

Get the idea?  Of course, make sure your point is valid.  While the PUC is
good for you...if they side with the local, then your claim is shot out the
window.  The PUC may tell you when you file the complain that the validity
of your complaint is not valid.  Talk to the person to make sure its not a
wording issue and if they still say no...they know.

Of course, this is for the baby bells that are regulated.  Non-regulated
(non-previous bell operating companies), the PUC may or may not be able to
help.  But they can tell you this.  And don't think...if you don't do it,
someone elsed will.  The way to view this...if you don't do it, how can you
expect others to do it?  Set the example.  After all, its your phone
bill...not mine.

And yes, I have filed a number of valid complaints against my local.  PUC
has been very helpful in resolving issues such as being told 3 months in
advance they will install 3 additional lines...the telco said I could have
them in 2 weeks, I told them no because I know it will be screwed up if they
aren't given ample time.  3 months later, telco calls, doesn't have the
facilities.  I gave them more than enough time to get those lines in and
they failed.  Within 3 working days, the PUC had the telco at my home
installing those promised lines that I would have had to wait more months
for had I waited.


Travis <travis4fun@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:37770990.5E2F9352@hotmail.com...
> I agree with you.  I am not even a customer of ATT and I got a bill for
some
> $320 for calls in my LOCAL CALLING AREA!  I called and bitched and they
tried to
> tell me that I owed the charges...I told them I am threatening to call the
> Public Utilities Commission as well as my local phone company until I get
some
> answers.
>
> Well, after 30 days of hoo-hawing, they finally agreed to remove the
> charges....but what a DAM HEADACHE.........!!!!!