Attorney Generals News Release

September 7, 1995

Long-distance companies 'slamming' consumers

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri consumers should be on alert for phone companies using “missing children” advertisements and other misleading efforts to trick consumers into changing their long-distance service, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said today.

Nixon said this practice, known as slamming, is currently exploding across the state. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline has received calls regarding more than 50 phone companies, and the rate of the complaints has increased substantially during the past few weeks. The majority of complaints, he said, have been lodged against small long-distance services who purchase blocks of time from the major carriers and resell it to consumers.

“There are potentially thousands of consumers who have already been switched without their consent,” Nixon said. “These companies rope in consumers through forgery and deceit, then reap profits without the consumers knowledge. Missourians need to keep an eye on their phone bills and make sure that they dont have their long-distance carrier switched without their authorization.”

Nixons office is actively investigating a number of cases, but Nixon urges consumers to be extremely cautious of various ploys used by unscrupulous companies to solicit customers:

• Read all fine print before signing your name. What you think is a simple contest entry or a charity solicitation may actually contain fine print that authorizes a change in your long-distance service.
• Regularly check your phone bill to make sure your long-distance provider is still listed. Unscrupulous businesses sometimes forge authorizations to bring in new customers.
• If you suspect you have been slammed, contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222. There are several companies being investigated and additional complaints will help bring a quicker end to their illegal tactics.
• Contact your local phone carrier to see if they offer any protection from slamming. Some local carriers offer procedures or forms that customers can complete to require their written authorization before a long-distance carrier switch can be made.

A recent ploy used to solicit long-distance customers is the distribution of contest entry forms that advertise “Help Find Missing Children” and “Win $35,000.” Many consumers who have filled out these entry forms did not read the small print at the bottom, which states that they have authorized a change in their long-distance service. Customers often did not know that their carrier had changed until they saw the name of a new carrier on their monthly phone bill or received a call from their former carrier asking them to return.

Consumers who have questions about slamming can call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222. The TDD line for speech- and hearing-impaired consumers is 1-800-729-8668.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Communications Office.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818