Phone rate changes and MCI "fake fees"
Newsletter Article
Warning: Your phone rates can change at any moment!
In one of the most spectacular anti-consumer moves in the history of the California Public Utilities Commision (CPUC), the commissioners voted 5-0 to allow phone companies to change their rates at any time for any reason. What this means is that if your phone company decides to raise your rates to $1 a minute next month, all they have to do is notify give you 30-days' notice. The only exception to this rule is for people who are low-income users of Universal Lifeline Service.
FEE FRAUD: UCAN sues MCI for “fake fee” abuses
As a part of its ongoing effort to claim the title of “World’s Worst Phone Company,” (currently held by AT&T), UCAN found that MCI has been systematically overcharging local phone customers and failing to refund money from wrongful charges.
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. Despite numerous complaints from customers, MCI has never given a full refund, and continues to make the inexcusable charges. UCAN is taking a stand to correct failures in customer service, and ensure that when you get a refund you don’t get shortchanged.
MCI is not the only company to engage in these kinds of tactics. UCAN has witnessed an increasing number of phone companies trying to pad their pockets with your money by adding bogus fees and surcharges. California’s regulators are currently choosing to ignore these nickel-and-dime abuses.
But UCAN isn’t about to let the companies get away with them.
These are at the core of the fundamental consumer rights UCAN strives to protect, and the reason watchdog groups such as UCAN need your support. UCAN is helping consumers put their collective foot down, and forcing companies to play fair.
If you’ve found any new charges on your phone bills that you don’t understand, let the UCAN Fraud Squad know about it. We plan to get tougher with fee fraud companies.
Like what you see? Go ahead and show your support! UCAN is a truly independent non-profit watchdog organization, dependent on grassroots donations like yours!
Utility Consumers' Action Network
(619) 696-6966 or file a complaint about a company online.
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