Background

Equal access allows telephone subscribers to choose a preferred or authorized telephone company or telephone companies to handle local toll and long distance toll (including international) calls from their traditional, wireline telephones. Where equal access is available, subscribers may choose separate preferred telephone companies for each of these services, or one preferred telephone company for both of them. Subscribers can place local toll and long distance toll calls using their preferred telephone company or companies by dialing 1 (or 011 for international calls) plus the appropriate code and telephone number. Subscribers can place calls using other telephone companies by dialing a 1010XXX access code. To learn more about these different types of calls, go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/local_long.html. Subscribers can change their preferred telephone company or companies at any time, but may be charged for doing so.

Wireless telephone companies are not required to provide equal access, and generally choose a preferred telephone company for their subscribers. If wireless companies allow use of “dial-around” 1010XXX access codes, they can choose to charge their customers a fee for doing so.

The FCC has adopted detailed “slamming” rules to prevent telephone companies from switching subscribers from one preferred telephone company to another without authorization. These rules provide a remedy if you’ve been slammed.

Authorized Switching Methods

Your telephone service cannot legally be switched from your existing preferred telephone company to a new company unless the new company verifies the switch using one of the following methods:

• Uses an independent third party to verify your oral authorization to switch.

• Provides and obtains your signature on a letter that indicates, in writing, that you want to switch preferred telephone companies.

• Provides a toll-free number that you can call to confirm the order to switch preferred telephone companies.

NOTE: The Communications Act makes telephone companies responsible for the acts of their agents, including their telemarketers.

New Guidelines for Telemarketing Switches

Before a telephone company can place an order to switch a subscriber who agreed to sign up for service during a telemarketing call, the company must verify the subscriber’s decision to switch by: (1) connecting the customer to a third party verifier; (2) sending the subscriber a letter of agency (LOA) to sign and return; or (3) providing a toll-free number to the subscriber to confirm the decision electronically. The requirements for each method are:

• Third Party Verification: All third party verifications must elicit from the subscriber: (1) the identity of the subscriber; (2) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the change; (3) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the change; (4) the names of the telephone companies affected by the change (not including the name of the displaced company); (5) the telephone numbers to be switched; (6) the types of service involved; and (7) appropriate verification data (such as, the subscriber's date of birth or social security number).
  
  Third party verifiers may not market the telephone company's services by providing additional information, including information regarding preferred telephone company freeze procedures.
   

• Letter of Agency: Any written or electronic LOA used to confirm a telemarketing order must include: (1) the subscriber's billing name and address; (2) each telephone number to be covered by the order to change the subscriber's preferred telephone company; (3) a statement that the subscriber intends to change from his or her current preferred telephone company to the new company; (4) a statement that the subscriber designates the new company to act as the agent for this change; and (5) a statement that the subscriber understands that there may be a charge for this change. The LOA also must be separate from any promotional material - like prizes or contest entry forms - that are mailed.
  
  An LOA provided to you by a telephone company must be limited strictly to authorizing a change in preferred telephone company and clearly identified as an LOA authorizing a change. The LOA must be written in clear language, and make clear to you that the document, when signed, will change your preferred telephone company. The print must be readable and comparable in type, style, and size to any promotional materials. Only the name of the telephone company that will set your rates can appear on the LOA. The LOA must also contain full translations if it uses more than one language.
  
  NOTE: Advertising promotions that send a check for payment to encourage you to switch preferred telephone companies can incorporate an LOA, but must meet specific guidelines. The check must contain the necessary information to make it payable, and can't contain any other promotional language or material.
  
  The telephone company must place the required LOA language near the signature line on the back of the check. In addition, the company must print on the front of the check, in easily readable, bold-faced type, a notice that your signature will authorize a change in your preferred telephone company.
   

• Toll-Free Number for Electronic Confirmation: Telephone companies electing to confirm sales electronically must establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number(s) will connect a subscriber to a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that records the required information regarding the preferred telephone company change, including automatically recording the originating telephone number. Such authorization must be placed from the telephone number(s) for which the preferred telephone company is to be changed.

How to Protect Yourself Against Slamming

Be a careful consumer:

• Always examine your telephone bill immediately and thoroughly. If you see a new preferred telephone company name on your bill, call the number that’s shown on that portion of the bill and ask for an explanation.

• Be aware of the methods telephone companies can use to change your preferred telephone company legally. The FCC’s rules require telephone companies to obtain your clear permission to make such a change. For example, if a new telephone company sends you an LOA to verify that you want to switch your preferred telephone company service to that company, the LOA is only valid if you sign and date it. Only sign, date, and return it if you are sure you want to change to the new company.

• Be sure you understand that switching long distance service also means switching international service. If you are considering switching preferred long distance telephone companies, be sure to ask whether any international calling plans you have with your current preferred long distance company will be offered by the new company.

Be firm with telemarketers:

• If you receive a call from a telemarketer about switching your preferred telephone company and you’re not interested in changing, tell that to the caller. You can also ask the caller to remove your telephone number from its solicitation lists, and place your residential phone number on the national Do-Not-Call list. For more information about the national Do-Not-Call list, visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html.

Thoroughly read all materials you receive in the mail:

• If you receive a letter in the mail asking you to “verify” that you switched your preferred telephone company, and neither you nor anyone in your household authorized the change, immediately notify the sender that you did not authorize a switch. Then, immediately call your local telephone company to confirm that you want to remain with your existing preferred telephone company or companies.

Read the fine print in any sweepstakes or drawing entry form before filling it out.

• The form may indicate that by signing it, you’ve given authorization to switch preferred telephone companies. In some states, such forms are illegal and should be reported to the state Attorney General’s office.

Be careful when answering telephone surveys.

• Be careful in responding to telephone surveys. If the person answering the telephone says “yes” to any of the surveyor’s questions, the answers may be taped and used later as verification of authorization to switch preferred telephone companies.

“Freeze” your existing preferred telephone company.

• A freeze lets your local telephone company know that you do not want it to switch your preferred telephone company unless it receives written or verbal authorization from you.

What to Do if You’ve Been Slammed

• Call the slamming company and tell it that you want the problem fixed. If you have not paid, tell the slamming company that you will not pay for the first 30 days of service. Call your preferred telephone company to inform it of the slam, and tell it that you want to be reinstated to the same calling plan you had before the slam. Also tell your preferred telephone company that you want all “change of carrier charges” (charges for switching companies) removed from your bill.
   

• You can call the following toll-free numbers to verify your preferred telephone company or companies:
   

  • 1-700-555-4141 for long distance and international services and
     

  • 1+your area code+700-4141 for local toll services.
     

• You can also file a complaint. If you live in a state that accepts slamming complaints, you can file your complaint with your state public service commission. You can find a list of states that accept slamming complaints at www.fcc.gov/slamming. You can find contact information for your state public service commission at www.naruc.org or in the blue pages or government section of your local telephone directory. Contact your state public service commission to determine the precise filing procedures.
  
  If you don’t live in a state that accepts slamming complaints, file your complaint with the FCC. You can file your complaint using our on-line complaint Form 501 found at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html; e-mailing slamming@fcc.gov; faxing 202-418-0035; or writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
ATTN: SLAM TEAM, Room CY-A257
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.

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This fact sheet is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to
affect any proceeding or cases involving this subject matter or related issues.

04/24/07

	Federal Communications Commission · Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554
	1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)  ·  TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)  · Fax: 1-866-418-0232  · www.fcc.gov/cgb/