Q: I’m not sure my meter is accurate. How can I have it checked?
Q: I keep hearing about "slamming." How can I keep this from happening to me?
Q: The long distance company listed on my phone bill is a company I never heard of, and I didn’t agree to change companies. What do I do?
Q: I'm changing my long distance company. What do I need to do?
Q: What can I do about CB interference on my phone line?
Q: How can I find out how much my local and/or long distance company charges for different services?
Q: Why do states keep adding new area codes?
Q: What do I do if I have a dispute with a PSC-regulated utility about my bill?
Q: If my phone is out of order and it’s not my fault, do I have to pay for the time it was out of order?
Q: What is cramming?
Q: I was charged for a service I didn't order on my phone bill. What do I do?
Q: What should I look at when choosing a long distance company?
Q: What's the cheapest time of day to make a long distance call?
Q: I see ads for dial-around long distance calls all the time. How do I know if these are a good deal?

Q: I’m not sure my meter is accurate. How can I have it checked?

A: If your gas or electric service is provided by a PSC-regulated utility such as Alabama Power Co. or Alabama Gas Corp. or Mobile Gas Service Corp., first contact the company. Ask to have your meter reread. Also, ask the company to explain to you how you can read your meter so you can compare your bill to your notes. If the company doesn’t cooperate, call the PSC, and we will schedule a reread of your meter.
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A: Slamming is when your long distance or local telephone company is changed without your knowing about it. It’s illegal in Alabama, and violators are subject to penalties as provided for in Act 97-412. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself:

• Read all promotional material and forms carefully before you sign them.
• If someone calls you about changing your phone service and you don’t want to change it, tell the caller you are not interested in his service.
• Call your local phone company and ask that your local and long distance service only be changed with your consent.
• If you receive a notice "verifying" that you are changing your telecommunications provider, call the company to let them know you don’t want to switch. Then call your local phone company to tell them you haven’t switched companies.
• Go over your phone bills closely and call your local phone company to ask about any unfamiliar names or charges.
  

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Q: The long distance company listed on my phone bill is a company I never heard of, and I didn’t agree to change companies. What do I do?

A: It sounds as if you could be a victim of "slamming." This happens when your long distance or local telephone company is changed without your realizing it. Here’s what to do:

• Call your local phone company to tell them your long distance company was changed without your consent. Ask to be reconnected to your preferred carrier and to have any charges for switching companies dropped.
• Call the company that slammed you to tell them you don’t want their service and that you’ll only pay the rates your preferred carrier would charge. You may be due an adjustment on your bill.
• Call your preferred carrier to let them know you were slammed. Ask to be reconnected at no charge.
• Call the PSC to report being slammed and to help if you don’t receive cooperation from the company that slammed you.

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Q: I'm changing my long distance company. What do I need to do?

A: First, notify your local phone company to tell them which company will now provide your long distance service. Then contact your new long distance company to let them know you want their service. Lastly, cancel your account with your former long distance carrier.
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A: Your local phone company can put a suppressor on your outside phone line. There is usually no charge for this service. However, if you also want a suppressor on your inside line, you will probably be charged. Your phone company can give you more information about the availability of this service.
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A: Probably the easiest way would be to ask the company. The PSC requires local phone companies in Alabama to provide an itemization of local billing on request once a year free of charge to their subscribers. Or if you prefer, the rates for local phone companies in Alabama and for long distance companies (on an intrastate basis) are contained in their tariffs filed with the PSC. These can be viewed by contacting the Secretary of the Commission at 334-242-5218. Local telephone companies also keep copies of their tariffs for viewing at their local business offices. Also, because of FCC requirements, many long distance companies post their interstate rates online so check your company's Web site.
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Q: Why do states keep adding new area codes?

A: One of the reasons is that the growth of telecommunications services such as cellular phones, pagers and FAX machines has created a larger demand for new telephone numbers. How much longer this trend will continue depends on whether the telecommunications industry continues to grow as fast as it has been. The FCC is looking at ways to slow the rate at which new area codes are needed. Mandatory dialing for Alabama’s newest area code -- 251 -- was implemented in January 2001.
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Q: What do I do if I have a dispute with a PSC-regulated utility about my bill?

A: First, try to resolve the issue with the company. You don’t have to pay the portion of your bill that you’re questioning while the matter is being investigated. However, you will probably have to pay the undisputed part to keep your service connected. After the company checks into your situation, it should let you know what it found out. If you still can’t come to terms, contact the PSC. We will look into the situation and either recommend corrective action or prepare an explanation.
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Q: If my phone is out of order and it’s not my fault, do I have to pay for the time it was out of order?

A: If an outage occurs because of a malfunction in telephone company equipment, you can ask for an adjustment to your bill when your phone is out of order for more than 48 hours after it’s reported to or discovered by the phone company.
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A: Cramming is a practice where telephone customers are charged for optional services they didn't order. These charges usually appear on a phone bill because local phone companies bill for services provided by other companies. When a local phone company receives the invalid or unauthorized information from an outside company, the customer's phone bill is incorrect. Another form of cramming is when a subscriber is charged for a service he ordered, but all of the charges were not clearly disclosed. The PSC does not have authority over the companies responsible for adding these charges to phone bills.

To avoid charges being fraudulently added to your phone bill, a practice known as "cramming," here's what to do:

• Read all forms and materials when you sign up for a phone service. ALSO read the fine print on contest forms and coupon offers because you could be signing up for a phone service without realizing it.
• Keep a record of the phone services you should be billed for each month.
• Read your phone bill closely. Look for any unfamiliar names or charges. If you see something questionable, call the company that billed you to check it out. The name and phone number of the company billing you for the service should be on your bill.

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Q: I was charged for a service I didn't order on my phone bill. What do I do?

A: It sounds as if you are probably a victim of "cramming," where customers are charged for optional phone services they didn't order. Here's what to do:

• Call the company that billed you for the service to cancel it and request a credit. This number should be on your bill.
• Contact your local phone company to tell them you didn't order the service.
• If you can't straighten out the problem after contacting the company that billed you and your local phone company, call the PSC. We may be able to assist in resolving the billing dispute.
• If the charges involve interstate or international telephone-related services, you can also file a complaint with the FCC at www.fcc.gov or by mail.
• For cramming involving non-telephone "content" services such as psychic hotlines, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at 202-326-3128.

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A: The most important factor to consider is your long distance calling habits. To determine your calling patterns, review six months' worth of long distance bills. Then compare calling plans among different companies to find the one that gives you the best rate for the kinds of calls you make most often.

As you evaluate long distance companies' plans, read the fine print. Look for references to minimum usage, monthly fees, time-of-day or distance requirements, all of which factor into the overall cost of the plan and whether it's the best deal for you. There is a great deal of information online to help you compare companies and rates, including www.trac.org, www.lowermybills.com and www.getconnected.com, just to name a few.
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Q: What's the cheapest time of day to make a long distance call?

A: That depends on your long distance company and your calling plan. The time periods for the lowest rate varies from one company to another and among calling plans offered by the same company. Call your long distance company and find out what time you'll get the best rate based on your calling plan. If this is a time when you don't make a lot of calls, you may need to re-evaluate your plan and find one that better fits your calling patterns.
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A: Here are some points to consider when you buy a prepaid phone card:

• Choose a card that has a toll-free number for 24-hour customer service. If possible, try the number before you buy the card. A frequent busy signal could mean you might have trouble getting through if you have problems with the card.
• Compare cost-per-minute rates for domestic and international calls.
• Make sure items such as surcharges, activation fees, or per-call access are fully disclosed.
• Check the card's expiration date to see whether you'll use all your phone time before then.
• Consider whether there are any distance limitations such as cards that prohibit international calls.
• Use a reputable company. You don't want to use a company that goes out of business before you've finished using your card.

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A: Before you use a dial-around service, compare its rates to your own company's calling plan. The savings advertised may not be in comparison to another company's lowest applicable rate. Plus, be aware that in-state rates may vary from out-of-state. Also, look for restrictions such as calling or billing minimums which may apply before you receive the advertised rate. Finally, make sure any added fees or surcharges are fully outlined so you'll know all the costs. After you've reviewed this information, you'll know whether dial-around is a cost-effective option for you.
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