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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 #.
UCAN is distressed at calls from relatives of AT&T customers trying to cancel service for deceased parents. And when we say "trying", that's exactly what is meant both literally and figuratively. Without the account passwords, cancellation of service for deceased persons is almost impossible. A FierceTelecom article written by Doug Mohney summed up the problem and provided two examples showing consumers in two states are not happy with these AT&T billing and cancellation practices. Read More.
The 442 area code is invading North (San Diego) County. Can it be stopped from wiping out 760? The PUC has the final say, but you can e-mail the PUC to demand an overlay so you keep your current 760 area code. The options are:
1. 760 / 442 Overlay - You keep the 760 area code for your current number and get 442 area code for new numbers.
2. Split - You get 442 as your new area code.
E-mail the PUC at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov demanding implementation of the overlay and read more at Keep760.org for details on why the overlay is better for North County residents and businesses.
UCAN agrees with other consumer groups that the lengthy AT&T contract received by most residential customers was a shot in the arm alarm announcing price increases were coming and that we should be prepared for a raise in basic local telephone service. Well, Thursday on 9/18/08, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved price hikes of up to $3.25 per month on land line phones for next year through 2010.
Several UCAN members have contacted us about AT&T's new 16-page Residential Service Agreement which is accompanied by a notice that begins, "Enclosed is the new AT&T Residential Service Agreement for residential services provided by AT&T. Please read it carefully."
AT&T has sued Cox Communications for anti-competitive behavior at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). AT&T wants access to Channel 4, a Cox property that shows upwards of 150 Padres baseball games. The move is ironic.
In this morning's keynote from the "CTIA Wireless & Entertainment 2008" expo, show, extravaganza, cabal, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon agreed to speak in vague generalities and put no meat on the open access or open networks bones. Each carrier talks about major caveats to its "open" policies, and each carrier has significant differences in how they define "open." So for now, think of "open" as the new marketing buzzword, the new "green" if you will. Look for the use of "open" to increase in use as a feel good marketing tool, and its meaning and substance to be inversely proportional.
Here's an article on the keynotes from FierceWireless, CTIA: Carriers talk "open" network but no clear definition
A Sprint PCS customer in Connecticut wrote UCAN the following question and explained her personal story: How does joining an international calling plan for about a mone-month trip to Israel end up costing double the entire cost of the trip? The customer stated she couldn't find out how this amount was derived because her bill had no itemized call breakdowns to show how the billing total was determined. The customer called to dispute the bill and requested itemization of her bill. The response was a demand for payment or service termination within ten days of the date of the notice. The notice was recieved on or about August 18, 2008 and was dated August 10, 2008.
You don't really use your cell phone except in emergencies. You don't even like using cell phones. But you feel like you need to get one, nonetheless. Here are our recommendations as of September 2008. But these plans change frequently, so check them out before you commit.
San Francisco Chronicle: Comcast is limiting bandwidth to 250 GB a month. It's a bad deal for consumers, says UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames. More.
Need help resolving a dispute with a company? Get individualized help with your dispute from the Fraud Squad by using our Online Complaint Forms. Once you've filled out a complaint, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
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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.
Despite continuous improvements to the technology, wireless companies have not found a way to stop unsolicited or SPAM Text Messages. There are a few solutions out there that each of the companies allow. Here are the steps you can take with the 4 largest wireless companies to help stop unsolicited text messages.
UCAN has compiled a list of VoIP providers and their current costs and features for comparison purposes. Let us know if we missed any providers. UCAN does not endorse or recommend any of these services. This list is just for comparison purposes and to let you the consumer know what's available.
Want to bring the hammer down on annoying telemarketers? The following guide will give you all the resources you need to get your number off telemarketing lists. But some telemarketers just won't take no NO for an answer. That's when you take them to court and hurt 'em where it counts...in the pocketbook.
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
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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
Don't let your cell phone hold you prisoner! Learn How to Hack Your Cell Phone Using BitPim and then Make Your Own Ringtones for Free at our newest affiliate:
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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!
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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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