🚀 go-pugleaf

D. Kirkpatrick <sunclad@sunclad.com> wrote:
>KK <KENJI@RIPCO.COM> wrote:

>>>Still does.

>>>The latest scam is that you get a call, you answer, call disconnects.

>>>Your next bill has a change from a gypsy phone service.

>>>You call them to get the charge removed.

>>>They willingly remove it *AFTER* they give you the sales speil for 
>>>their service.

>>what are they selling that they get ATT to bill you for it?

>Its just a scam to assure a sales call.

>I've had it happen a couple of times now.

>I scream at them to not recite the sales speil and refund me and they 
>say "yes sir" and continue with their heavily laden Indian accent.

>They get paid if they finish the speil.

>Then they say they will issue the refund and you have to watch your 
>bill to assure it happens.

>I've complained to Verizon to no avail.  They are powerless to stop it 
>- or so they say - because on their end it appears as if it wa sa 
>legit call.  In fact it was - a hang up.  The whole thing is a scam to 
>get you to call their 800 number to get  the $5 charge removed and 
>force you to listen to the speil.

Just a moment. Verizon is NOT powerless to stop it. Tell them to send
you the form for slamming protection, which by FCC regulation they must
cooperate with. You can ask for slamming protection for inter-LATA (long
distance) and intra-LATA (local toll) separately, depending on what deal
you have. Within your local exchange and probably to adjacent exchanges,
your carrier has a monopoly.

Under slamming protection, the telephone subscriber must initiate the
change. There are two ways to do so: A three-way call between the long
distance carrier, the local exchange carrier, and you, or a separate
call from you to the local exchange carrier to authorize the change.

You can even go so far as to require that all changes be made in writing
from you.

Once you change your long-distance carrier, you must re-initiate
slamming protection.

The magic words are "I want slamming protection". If Verizon still won't
cooperate, then complain to FCC.