Dial Around Long Distance Service

What is dial around long distance service?

Dial around long distance service or 10-10- dialing is a seven digit access code (101XXXX) that allows consumers to use a long distance company on a per call basis other than the primary carrier they’ve chosen as their long distance provider. The code allows customers to use a different long distance carrier without changing their primary carrier.

If you shop wisely, consumers can receive discounts ranging from 10% to 50% off published rates. Investigate before you dial. Even though a company is offering a discount, it may not be lower than the rates you are already paying, especially if you already have an optional calling plan. There is no guarantee that “dial around” means discounting.

Is 10-10-dialing a good deal for consumers?

It can be! It’s just like buying any other competitive product or service. You need to shop around and do research to get the best deal.

Following is a list of questions to assist you in your research:

- Does your company charge a monthly minimum or flat rated surcharge? (Example: A minimum of $4.95 per month.)
- Do you apply a special charge to the first minute of each call?
(Example: An additional ten (.10) for the first minute of each call.)
- Is there a minimum amount of time you must talk before you receive the advertised rate? (Example: A minimum of twenty (20) minutes before you receive the discounted rate.)
- Do your rates apply 24 hours a day/7 days a week or are there time of day restrictions?
(Example: Advertised rates only apply between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.)

Advantages:
- Cheaper rates (if you shop around)
- Choice of carriers - Allows you to access your carrier of choice from any phone Disadvantages:
- You have to dial extra digits
- It may be more expensive than your current plan

Slamming

In telephony, slamming means to switch a customer’s long distance provider without the customer’s permission or knowledge.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has identified “slamming” as the number one source of phone-related complaints it receives. During 1997, 46% of 20,475 written complaints related to “slamming”. In Tennessee the story is no different. Complaints have risen from 364 in 1997 to 570 as of December 1, 1998.

During 1998, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation designed to eliminate the practice of slamming and the Tennessee Regulatory Authority has developed rules to protect and monitor the marketplace. These rules are awaiting final approval from the Tennessee Attorney General’s office.

Following are some of the highlights of these new rules that you should be aware of. First, there are three legal ways that your long distance company can be switched. They are by a signed Letter of Agency (LOA), by independent third party verification, and by consumer generated calls to the long distance service provider.

A Letter of Agency (LOA) is a written letter authorizing a change in a customer’s long distance service provider. It must be signed by the person responsible for the phone bill, and that person must be 18 years of age. This letter must contain the customer’s billing name and address, each telephone number covered by the service changes/order, as well as the company and service to which the customer wishes to subscribe. It must contain the customer’s understanding of the change fee.

Independent third party verification allows a long distance company to obtain the customer’s verbal approval to change their long distance provider during a telemarketing sales contact. Verbal approval must be given by the person responsible for the telephone bill and must be confirmed using the following procedure:

A qualified, independent third party located in a separate location from the telemarketing company must follow up with the customer on their verbal authorization. They must state the name of the third party verifier they represent, their name, and the name of the long distance carrier on whose behalf they are calling. The following data must be verified:

Verification of the name and number of the service.

An explanation of what services are about to be changed and when that change will occur.

A verification that the customer has the authority to switch long distance providers for the telephone number by stating the customer’s birth date or social security number.

A request whether or not the customer authorized the change of provider.

A statement at the end of the call indicating whether the customer’s long distance provider will or will not be changed

Lastly, a customer can initiate a call to an automated 800 number to change their provider. Long distance carriers electing to confirm sales electronically must establish one or more toll-free number(s) exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number(s) will connect a customer to a voice response unit or similar mechanism that records the required information regarding the primary carrier change. In the event that you notify your local phone company that you have been slammed, they shall suspend the PIC change charge and switch you back to your preferred carrier within one working day. They are required to inform you to contact the Tennessee Regulatory Authority at 615-741-2904 or 1-800-342-8359, extension #158, Consumer Services. Carriers found in violation of these rules can be charged up to $50 per day, per occurrence in Tennessee.

As an additional safeguard in Tennessee, customers can request a “PIC freeze” which affords additional protection against slamming. A “PIC freeze” indicates to the local phone company that you have requested that your long distance provider not be changed. In order for the phone company to make a switch if a request is received from a carrier to change a customer’s service that is frozen, they must perform an independent verification themselves through contact with the customer.

Unwanted Telephone Marketing Calls

What can you do to stop those unwanted telemarketing calls? The Direct Marketing Association maintains a list of consumers that do not want to receive telemarketing calls. You can be placed on this list by sending your name, telephone number (including area code), and address (including zip code) to:

Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014 Farmington, NY 11735-9014

This action will not stop all telemarketing calls, but should reduce the number of unwanted calls.

You can also request that the telephone solicitor stop calling your number and ask them to place you on their “do not call list.” The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Do-Not-Call-Rules requires telemarketers to keep a record of this request and honor it for ten years. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act and FCC rules specify a penalty for violation of $500 in damages or actual monetary losses (whichever is greater).

Tax exempt, not-for-profit organizations are not required to keep a do-no-call list and are not prohibited from making telemarketing calls.

If you encounter deceptive telephone solicitation sales practices, please report them to:

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
Drop H285
Washington, DC 20580
Or contact the State Attorney General’s Office.

Cramming

Cramming is the practice of billing customers for services never ordered, such as call waiting, voice mail, and Internet access. The Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) has developed rules on cramming that are currently under review by the State Attorney General’s Office.

The Tennessee Regulatory Authority developed the following rules to protect the consumer and monitor the telecommunications marketplace.

In order to bill for additional features and services, the local telephone company must obtain prior consent from the customer responsible for the bill before placing charges on the telephone bill. Only authorized individuals are allowed to make service and billing decisions. Telephone charges must be listed in sufficient detail to allow for understanding by the customer. The TRA can assess up to $100 per day, per offence for cramming.

Steps that can prevent credit card fraud

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday.

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS # printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.

But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers

Handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the

internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit.

Here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271