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Protect
against phone bill 'cramming'WASHINGTON (5/23/11)--Have you noticed a charge on your phone bill for something you didn't purchase? You may be
the victim of cramming.Cramming is the term that describes unauthorized third-party charges on mobile and landline telephone bills. Consumers can pay for services
not offered by their phone carrier--such as subscriptions, collect calls, and charitable donations--through their phone bill.
Cramming occurs when unscrupulous third parties place false charges on the bill to collect money for services they didn't
provide.Cramming has the attention of lawmakers in Washington and consumers are seeing some relief. The Senate Commerce Committee's
investigation into the practice has helped reduce the number of unauthorized charges on millions of consumers' phone bills
(Consumer Reports May 17). The problem is far from over, however. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the
Senate Commerce Committee, referred to cramming as an extensive problem for both businesses and consumers during a Federal
Trade Commission forum on the subject (The Hill May 11). The good news is that you can take these steps to protect
yourself from cramming: - Understand your bill. Take time to familiarize
yourself with the layout of your phone bill, understand the terms used, and be aware of the legitimate charges. Contact your
phone carrier if you have any questions. You can also visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website to learn more
about both wireless and landline telephone bills.
- Review your charges. Review your monthly phone bill to make sure you're only being charged for services you've requested. Pay close attention
to any charges labeled in generic terms such as "service charge," "activation," "Web hosting"
and "voice mail." Also look for collect calls you didn't accept and calls placed to unfamiliar area codes. These
may also be indications of cramming.
- Be careful with contests and giveaways. Read the fine print for any contests, giveaways and prize drawings you enter. Crammers
often use these methods to trick consumers into registering for services.
- Block third-party charges. Ask your phone company if it's possible to block all charges from third
parties. Understand that this may limit you from using legitimate third-party services; many, but not all, phone carriers
will honor this request.
For more information, read "Crooks Use High-Tech Scams to Commit Fraud"
in the Home & Family Finance Resource Center.
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