Kerman2023

CONSUMER INFORMATION

California State Attorney General’s Office – Public Inquiry Unit P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 Telephone: 916-210-6276 or 1-800-952-5225 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Write to them at: Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20580 Telephone: 1-(202) 326-2222 or 1-877-382-4357 Internet Address: http://www.ftc.gov/ National Fraud Information Center (NFIC): This is a private, non-profit organization that operates a consumer hotline to provide services and assistance in filing telemarketing complaints. NFIC also forwards appropriate complaints to the Federal Trade Commission for entry into its telemarketing database. Write to them at: National Fraud Information Center P.O. Box 65868 Washington, DC 20035 Nuisance Or Obscene Phone Calls This problem has caused us a lot of concern. We want your phone service to be a convenience. Not a nuisance. And certainly not a threat. These calls fall into two general categories – nuisance or prank calls and obscene or threatening calls. Here are a few ideas to discourage them. If they persist, please let your service representative know. Nuisance Or Prank Calls Most of these are made by youngsters, although they have been known to come from acquaintances, neighbors and business associates. Here’s what to do: 1. Ask the caller to identify themselves, state the number they’re calling and to whom they wish to speak. This usually throws them off. 2. Instruct children and babysitters never to talk to strangers on the phone. If they don’t recognize the voice immediately, tell them to hang up.

Sebastian is providing the following information to all customers in compliance with State Law AB2134, effective 1-1-99. There are various government agencies, which publish information that generally describe telephone subscribers’ rights under these state and federal laws. This information is available to you by contacting the agencies listed below. As a consumer, you have rights to privacy and to protect yourself from potential telemarketing fraud, unsolicited sales calls and faxes. The laws apply to live calls, prerecorded voice calls and artificial (computerized) voice calls. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules and regulations, effective December 20, 1992, implementing The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Different rules and regulations apply to calls placed to homes and businesses. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also has Telemarketing Sales Rules, which have been enacted to help you as a consumer. State laws are in place to protect citizens who have had their privacy violated or have been victims of fraudulent telemarketers. Your state Attorney General, along with the Telemarketing Sales Rules, has the power to investigate and prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines. It is your responsibility to be aware of our policies regarding suspension, termination and restoration of service. It is your responsibility to review your bill for accuracy as soon as you receive it. If you have questions or find errors, call our business office as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to immediately relinquish a party line when informed that such a line is needed for an emergency call to medical aid or ambulance service. Any person who shall secure the use of a party line by falsely stating that such a line is needed for an emergency call, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec 384—California Penal Code). You are responsible for all calls made from your line regardless of who places the call. This includes long distance calls and calls made to 900 or 976 numbers. This also includes harassing or threatening calls. Your telephone service may be used for legal purposes only.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Write to them at: Federal Communications Commission Common Carrier Bureau – Consumer Complaints 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Telephone: 1-888-225-5322 Internet Address: http://www.fcc.gov/ Email: fccinfo@fcc.gov Direct Marketing Association/ Telephone Preference Service Write to them at: Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512 Your name can be added to DMA’s list by sending your name, telephone number (include your area code) and address (include your ZIP code). Please remember that with the DMA registration, the number of unsolicited calls should be reduced to your home but may not stop all unwanted calls. To Contact the Public Advisor’s Office: In San Francisco: 505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103 San Francisco, CA 94102 Internet Address: http://www.dmachoice.org Telephone: 1-866-849-8390 or 1-415-703-2074 Email: public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov 3. Remember, the phone is for your personal use. Don’t speak to anyone unless YOU want to. Obscene Or Threatening Calls Your best defense against this type of call is a cool head. Obscene or threatening calls are meant to anger or frighten you. So don’t give the caller the satisfaction of any reaction. Say nothing and hang up gently. If the calls threaten bodily harm, and especially if they are repeated, call the police immediately. We will assist the police in every way we can. Obscene or harassing calls are prohibited by federal and state laws. A person who makes or permits such calls to be made over a telephone under his control may be fined or imprisoned or both. Federal Communications Act, Section 223; California Penal Code, Section 653m.

Your Consumer Rights Help Protect Against Unsolicited Telephone Marketing Calls And Faxes!

Telephone: 1-(800) 876-7060, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST, Mon-Fri Internet Address: http://www.fraud.org

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