Cramming on phone bills is nothing new, but the FCC is finally beginning to crack down on telecommunication companies for the practice.
cramming
Verizon sues over third party fraudulent text messages
You know that time you signed up for daily joke text messages and got charged a fortune? Here’s your chance to get some of that cash back.
Earlier this week Verizon filed a lawsuit against a ring of text message scammers that subverted the proper identification channels. The Texas Attorney General also joined the lawsuit. The scammers set up websites that offered everything from recipes to daily jokes to video game tips sent to you in text message form. However, they didn’t properly disclose how much the service would cost ($3-$10 a month) and they subverted Verizon’s tracking system.
FTC to Hold Forum on Ways to Protect Consumers from Unauthorized Charges on their Phone Bills
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is hosting a Forum on May 11, 2011 to examine how government, business, and consumer protection organizations can work together to prevent consumers from receiving unauthorized third-party charges on their phone bills. This practice is known as cramming.
AT&T launches ShopAlert so you can receive ads via text messages
AT&T in another showing that it cares more about making money than providing services consumers’ actual want offers ShopAlerts so you can sign up and receive advertisement via text message based on your location.
FCC Communications Consumer Protection and Empowerment Proceeding
The FCC recently sought comment concerning what actions need to be taken to ensure consumers of wireless, broadband, and video services are well informed about: the costs associated with the services; the contracts consumers must enter into; the charges for which consumers are billed; and the methods for resolving billing issues.
UCAN wins important consumer protections for AT&T customers to reduce International Roaming Fraud
UCAN has won important consumer protections that will minimize International Roaming fraud for AT&T wireless consumers when traveling abroad.
Whether you are the victim charges incurred on a stolen or lost phone, or you simply have charges for calls you did not place, UCAN's case against AT&T (for unauthorized International Roaming charges to customers who visited Ethiopia) was brought to reinforce your rights; you are NOT responsible for unauthorized International Roaming charges under California law.
AT&T will now have to provide basic consumer protections that will prevent International Roaming fraud, and allow customers to control the services they use.
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