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UCAN's comments filed regarding proposed cramming reporting requirements in the continuing CPUC rulemaking, 00-02-004.
UCAN's comments filed regarding proposed cramming reporting requirements in the continuing CPUC rulemaking, 00-02-004.
The final settlement in 06-10-023, UCAN's cramming case against MCI.
The California Public Utilities Commission approval of the final settlement in 06-10-023, a cramming case brought by UCAN against MCI.
UCAN's federal class action complaint against Sprint Nextel (aka Sprint Solutions) for illegally billing customers taxes, fees, and text message charges on data services plans.
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.
Imagine you are small business and you get a bill from your local phone company company for $1000. You are shocked because your monthly bill is usually closer to $100 per month. The company claims that your higher bill is for the international calls that you made from your fax machine. "Hold on", you think. "I didn't make any international calls from my fax machine or from ANY phone. I didn't make any international calls at all!"
You protest but the phone company says that even though you didn't make the calls, someone was able to hack into your phone system and make the calls. "But wait", you exclaim, "I don't have a phone system. I don't have a PBX. I just have two phone lines provided by you".
"Ah, but you didn't take precautions to protect your phones from being hacked," responds the phone company.
"What precautions!", you reply. "I put international call blocking on my phone service".
An impossible scenario? Apparently not accordingly to Telepacific/MPower. It did almost exactly this to a San Diego-based flower shop. Read our complaint about this shocking practice.
The CPUC is considering revising the rules regarding reporting of unauthorized charges for telecommunications services. Learn about the proposed changes as well as UCAN's position and legal filings on the issue.
UCAN has filed a federal class action complaint against Sprint Nextel (aka Sprint Solutions) for illegally billing customers taxes, fees, and text message charges on data services plans. You can read the complaint here.
AT&T's practice of enabling international roaming without customer notification violates the CA Public Utilities Code, which is intended to protect consumers from "cramming" of unauthorized charges. AT&T customers are also being charged for calls that were never placed. UCAN asserts that these customers never sought nor authorized international roaming as a service provided in connection with their cellular phone service.
California Lifeline, formerly known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS), provides discounted basic residential (landline) telephone service to low-income households.
UCAN's complaint, filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, details how MCI added surcharges to the bills of local phone customers in violation of California law. MCI's new long-distance "Basic Monthly Fee" is being imposed on those customers who use MCI's local phone service...but don't use MCI long-distance.
Of all the new features and capabilities of today's cell phones, UCAN receives the most complaints about ringtones and text messages. Our issue center contains all sorts of valuable information from consumer guides and updates to lawsuits and settlements against major cell phone providers. Come inside and see for yourself!
UCAN established that Cingular Wireless engaged in illegal marketing and customer service practices from 2000-2002 and filed a suit in July 2002. The case dragged on for years, but in was worth the wait. In 2006, a CA Court of Appeals judge ruled against Cingular and upheld a CPUC decision to hit Cingular with a large fine for its unconscionable actions. Get all the details inside our issue center.
From SDG&E to SBC, get the real story on undergrounding in San Diego inside this issue center.
Nimbuzz intends to enable you to get your Skype, Google Chat and Calls, social networking, SIP calls, and Instant Messages in one convenient place. When it works.
FCC Chairman Genachowski has proposed six net neutrality principles be adopted as rules by the FCC. This welcome sign for an "Open" Internet could effect everything from your home Internet Service to your cell phone and broadband data card service.
But this is just the first step. Learn about what the FCC Chairman proposes and how it affects your Internet service.
T-Mobile begins charging all customers $1.50 for the privilege of receiving your bill in the mail. Oh by the way if you were already paying $1.99 for the privilege of receiving a detailed bill the $1.50 will be added to that total. Are they also going to start sending it postage due?
UPDATE: Sept. 11, 2009 - T-mobile has withdrawn the $1.50 billing charge.
Those annoying prerecorded telemarketing calls are about to become illegal and violaters will face stiff fines. MORE
Questions raised by bloggers and online media about AT&T's role in the rejection by Apple of an Google Voice app for the Iphone, have prompted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ask the three companies "what gives." To its credit, it is good to see the FCC asking questions under the new Obama Administration. MORE
Each carrier takes a different stance on what is materially adverse, who can get out (Cingular for instance has eliminated language in some contracts that claims that text messages are an "optional service"). You usually (except for Verizon which does offer 60 day period to call and claim materially adverse) only have a short time to claim a change as materially adverse, sometimes less than 14 days.
Cell phone providers will let you get out of your contract for around $175 per phone line with no questions asked.
If that just isn't good enough for you, and it shouldn't be, then take a look at this guide to learn about asserting your rights!
Regardless of what you are buying, there are simple "do's" and "don'ts" that apply to all types of contracts. UCAN's consumer advocates have compiled a list of insider secrets that will help you get a better deal. Read more
Tony Wolverton of the San Jose Mercury News reported what we've all been expecting. Any customers who do not have bundled package plans with AT&T can look forward to between a 10% and 25% monthly increase for basic land line phone services. In January 2009, the basic phone service will increase from $10.94 to $13.50 per month. Executive Director Michael Shames of Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) is quoted in the article as follows: "Saying that the phone market is competitive is 'sort of like saying that television wrestling is a real sport'".
AT&T's new Customer Service Agreement is not only flawed and unfair, but it is almost three feet long when printed. Are the new terms in effect? Not yet. Full Story.
Power Net Global (PNG) customers have reported to UCAN that their local AT&T bills were charged a switching fee from Quest long distance to Williams Communications long distance. PNG maintained that customers received notice of this change. UCAN did not find any members who had ever seen the notice to switch from Quest to Williams. So, what should customers do if they see these charges by Williams Communications? Immediately call PNG at 1-877-599-3095 or 1-800-860-9495 and request your credit in the amount of $3.31 for per account. Make sure you have your AT&T local bill ready to fax to PNG to prove you were charged the switching fee, if asked. NOTE: The number that was posted previously in this blog and that was given to UCAN by PNG (1-877-441-6096) is no longer a working number. UCAN was not notified of this change by PNG. Fortunately, a UCAN member called to notify us about the non-working #.
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UCAN's affiliate New Media Rights is hosting a discussion forum on the future of media and journalism in San Diego. Join in on the discussion now!
How to protect your own blog or website from liability for user generated content
Is Youtube putting advertisements on user videos without permission?
Essential free and open software toolkit for consumers
How to find free music, images, and video you can use or remix in your own creative works
How to Listen to Music on the Internet for Free...Legally
How to make a Podcast... for free
Visit NewMediaRights.org
Get personal assistance with your consumer complaint about a company by using our Online Complaint Forms. Or, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
Want to bring the hammer down on annoying telemarketers? Stop Telemarketers Now and get your number off telemarketing lists. And for the telemarketers that just won't take no for an answer; we'll show you how to take them to court and hurt em where it counts...in the pocketbook.
Don't buy a cell phone without our Mobile Phone Plan Checker!
Register to get it FREE right now!
What are you packin? Is it anything like UCAN's new and improved Consumer Complaint Directory? If not, you should really pick up a copy. This thing is chock-full of hard-hitting consumer punch.
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