Sierra2022Archive

Consumer Rights Protect Yourself Against Slamming, Cramming & Scamming

National Do Not Call Registry Consumers who wish to decrease the amount of unsolicited telemarketing calls they receive should register with the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry www.donotcall.gov Voice: 888-382-1222 TTY: 866-290-4236 Telephone Sales Protections By law, you have 72 hours to cancel a purchase made by phone. Be sure you receive a phone number to call when placing an order. Prosecuting Fraudulent Callers It is illegal for another person to charge long distance calls to your number or calling card without your permission. People using unauthorized calling cards or phone numbers are subject to prosecution and may be imprisoned, fined, or both. Slamming It is illegal for someone to change your Long Distance Carrier without your authorization. Protect Yourself Ask your telephone company for a “PIC Freeze” so that your carrier will not be changed without your permission. If you receive notification in the mail verifying a new long distance carrier service that you did not order, call Sierra Telephone immediately to make sure your carrier has not already been switched without your knowledge. If you have been “slammed,” be sure to call your carrier of choice and notify them also. They will have been notified of your carrier change and may have cancelled whatever calling plans or discount rates you have on your account. Always be sure to verify with your carrier that your plan is still in place.

Handling Unwanted Phone Calls If you do not want to talk to a telemarketer, just say “no thank you,” and hang up. If you’re bothered by harassing or anonymous phone calls, try these techniques to discourage them: • Always hang up immediately at the first obscene word or if the person on the other end of the line doesn’t respond after you’ve said “hello” twice. • Don’t talk to the caller. This is what he or she wants you to do. • Don’t give out any information or let the caller know if you’re alone. Teach your children to say, “Mom or Dad can’t come to the phone. May I take a message?” If the problem occurs continuously, report it to your local law enforcement agency. Keep a record of the days and times of the calls, and note the caller’s sex, voice, accent, and comments. This information could assist the police. It is a crime to make harassing, obscene, or anonymous phone calls under both federal and state laws. California law requires that calls originating in this state and using a recorded message must be preceded by a live person who does the following four things: • Tells you who’s calling. • Tells you what the call is about and how long it will last. • Asks you if you are willing to listen. • Hangs up if you say you don’t want to hear the message. Similar laws may not apply to calls originating in other states, and so occasionally you may receive a call that does not follow these rules.

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