Coxsackie2021

Global Communications.

Hometown Service.

Consumer Information

Complaints: State Tel. 518-731-6128 - ask to speak to a manager businessoffice@statetel.com New York State Department of Public Service www.dps.ny.gov/complaints Helpline - 1-800-342-3377 Area Codes: Two area codes now exist (518 & 838) and you must use 10 digits when placing a call. Hearing / Speech Impaired – the New York Relay Service is for hearing and/or speech impaired customers which enables them to conveniently “talk” over the phone. Regular long distance charges apply but there are no additional costs for this service. “Slamming” – means that your choice of long distance phone carrier is changed without your knowledge and/or consent. This practice has evolved through competition between long distance carriers. There are many ways long distance carriers can make the switch. How will you know if you have been slammed? You will receive a bill for long distance calls from a new or unfamiliar company or you may see charges for a new or unfamiliar carrier on your State Telephone bill. If you feel that you have been slammed contact us right away @ 518-731-6128 and advise us. We will assist you in getting switched to the carrier that you choose. You may also request a “freeze” on your long distance carrier which means that any future request to change your carrier would require approval from you the customer in writing. 900 Calls – the 900 area code is used as a form of telemarketing. Businesses use these numbers in many different ways but essentially when you dial a 900 number you are billed a flat fee or per minute fee each time you call or for each minute you are on the phone regardless of any activity on the line. These calls many times are overseas calls that you are not aware were being made. Charges can accumulate quickly and can be excessively high. State Telephone Co. does not operate or have any involvement with the operation of 900 numbers. We do have the responsibility of placing the charges for these calls on the phone bill. If you have a problem with 900 numbers on your phone bill please contact our business office and we can assist you in resolving it.

** State Telephone can put a “900” block on your line which prohibits these calls from your line. Annoyance Calls – It is against the law in New York State to make an obscene, harassing or threatening phone call. If You Receive Such a Call: 1) Hang up at the first obscene word or gesture or if somebody does not say anything after the second hello. 2) Give no information to a caller you do not know. 3) Instruct children not to give information to a caller. 4) Contact the police if annoying calls continue. To File a Complaint: 1) Contact your local police dept. and advise them you wish to file a complaint regarding annoying or harassing calls. You must get the officer’s name and complaint # . 2) Contact State Telephone Co. and advise our representative of the situation. You will then need to sign a form authorizing a “trace” be placed on your line along with the officer’s name and complaint number. 3) Then, when you receive another annoying or harassing call, hang up, then dial *57 and note the time of the call. Contact State Telephone during business hours and advise of the date and time of the call. 4) If a successful trace is made then State Telephone Co. will contact the police officer or dept. and provide them with the information. 5) Under NO circumstances will State Telephone Co. provide the information obtained in a “trace” to the customer. Recording Telephone Conversations – customer provided voice recording equipment may be connected to the user’s telephone equipment. When such a connection is made, the customer provided voice recording equipment must be arranged so that the user can activate or deactivate the equipment at will. Under both Federal and State law, only one party to a telephone conversation must give their consent prior to the recording of the conversation. Wiretapping or any interception of a telephone call without this consent, other than by a properly-authorized law enforcement agent, is a crime. Punishment may include imprisonment and/or a fine.

Hometown Service.

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