Slamming and Cramming

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What you can do if you are slammed or crammed

What you can do if you are slammed

Contact your local phone company and:

• Request an immediate switch back to your preferred carrier. This is especially advisable for business customers who may have phone packages dependent on being served by the preferred long-distance carrier. It also may affect customers' phone savings plans.
• Tell your local company you believe you have been slammed and request it to remove all "switching" fees. Local companies usually assess a fee each time they switch your long-distance carrier.
• Ask your local company to remove all of the slammer's long-distance charges or at least "re-rate" them if the rates are higher than those of your chosen long-distance carrier. Although your local company usually has authority to remove or re-rate these charges, it may require you to first contact the slammer and try to resolve the problem. If so, get the slammer's phone number from your local carrier.
• Ask the slammer to remove all long-distance charges. If it refuses and is charging a higher rate, then ask it to at least re-rate the bill.
• Ask the slammer to send you a copy of the document or tape recording authorizing the switch. If the slammer cannot be reached or is uncooperative, inform your local phone company and ask it to remove the slammer's charges or at least re-rate them.

What to do if you are crammed

Local carriers provide billing services for third-party companies selling these services. When you see unauthorized charges, you should:

• Immediately contact your local carrier, say you did not authorize the charges and ask that the charges be removed. Your local carrier has authority to remove the charges, but it may require you to contact the crammer first to try to resolve the dispute. If so, ask for the crammer's phone number.
• Call the crammer and explain you did not request the services. Also, ask who authorized the services and request a copy of the document or tape recording authorizing the services.
• Ask that the charges be removed. If the crammer refuses or cannot be reached, inform your local phone carrier and say you did not authorize the disputed charges. Ask the local carrier to remove them.

File a complaint

When you get slammed or crammed, contact:

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