I canceled my Verizon land line in 1997 due to poor service, repairmen not showing up while I took days off from work (four times!), and general rudeness when I tried to talk to their representatives.  I've had a cell phone ONLY for ten years now (NOT Verizon!).  Suddenly I get a bill from a collection agency trying to collect more than a hundred dollars on my old Verizon landline account!  I know I paid up everything when I terminated my service.  But because this was ten years ago, I no longer have the paperwork to prove it.  What can I do?

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Good morning, Can you please tell me which phone companies in the los angeles county, North Hollywood area offer Lifeline service?
Thank you so much, Theresa

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is holding public hearings on the 760 area code change alternatives on Feb. 21(Carlsbad) and 22(El Centro).  The CPUC provides the following Q&A concerning the area code change.  You can find more information on the CPUC website.     

1. Why is another area code needed?

• Whole prefixes are running out in the existing 760 area code. Once an area code no longer has any whole prefixes, it is considered to be at exhaust. The available telephone numbers in the 760 area code are limited and cannot support the needed demand for telephone numbers in the long-term.

2. What will the new area code be?

• The new area code will be the 442 area code.

3.

Every year, California LifeLine customers, formerly Universal Lifeline, must show the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that they are eligible to remain on the program. This recertification process used to be done by the telephone companies, but as of July 2006 that task was assigned to a third-party company hired by the CPUC. As a result of this change, the new name was not recognized by customers. Hundreds of persons alleged they never received the form and others alleged they did return it in a timely manner and were also disqualified. Find more information on low income telephone service from UCAN by clicking here.