The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also requires disclosures to telephone subscribers, which are as follows:
Your local exchange and long distance service cannot be disconnected or interrupted as a result of your failure to pay charges for interstate pay-per-call service charges for interstate information services provided pursuant to a presubscription or comparable arrangement, or charges you have disputed for interstate tariffed collect information services.
You can obtain blocking of access to services offered on the "900" service access code where it is technically feasible at no charge within 60 days after you subscribe to a new number and it becomes effective. Other requests for blocking and requests for unblocking will be subject to a reasonable onetime fee. Our tariffs include the terms and conditions that apply. You have a right not to be billed for pay-per-call services not offered in compliance with Federal laws and regulations established under Titles II or III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act.
Your access to "900" services may be involuntarily blocked for failure to pay legitimate pay-per-call charges.
Selecting a Telephone Company
Your Rights As A Customer
Telephone companies are prohibited by law from switching you from one telephone service provider to another without your permission, a practice commonly known
as "slamming."
If you are slammed, Texas law requires the telephone company that has slammed you to do the following:
Pay all charges associated with returning you to your original telephone company within five business days of your request:
Provide all billing records to your original telephone company within ten business days of your request.
Pay the original telephone company the amount you would have paid if you had not been slammed.
Refund to you, within 30 business days, any amount you paid for charges during the first 30 days after the slam and any amount more than what you would have paid your original telephone company for charges after the first 30 days following the slam.
Your original telephone company is required to provide you with all the benefits such as, frequent flyer miles, you would have normally received for your telephone use during the period in which you were slammed.
If you have been slammed, you can change your service immediately back to your original provider by calling your local telephone company. You should also report the slam by writing or calling:
The Public Utility Commission of Texas
P.O. Box 13326
Austin, Texas 78711-3326
(512) 936-7120 or in Texas (toll free) 1 (888) 782-8477, fax (512) 936-7003
email address: customer@puc.state.tx.us
Hearing and speech-impaired individuals with text telephones (TTY) may contact the commission at (512) 936-7136.
You can prevent slamming by requesting a preferred telephone company freeze from your local telephone company. With a freeze in place, you must give formal consent to ~lift" the freeze before your phone service can be changed. A freeze may apply to local toll service, long distance service, or both. The Public Utility Commission of Texas can give you more information about freezes and your rights as a customer.
