My long-distance carrier has been AT&T for many years. Domestic long-distance was 7 cents/minute and international (to India) was 42 cents/minute.
I recently discovered that I had been overcharged on my long-distance bill. Phone calls within the US were 18 cents/minute and calls to India were $1.76/minute. I looked at the top of the bill and saw "USBI" written. I also noticed in small writing that my service provider was now "LD Services". I thought to myself "Who the HELL is LD Services?" I never made a switch to any new long-distance company. I then noticed a pamphlet included with my phone bill about telephone fraud and one paragraph titled "Slamming and Cramming".
Apparently "Slamming" is when your long-distance, local toll, or local service is changed without your authorization. "Cramming" is when you are billed for optional services you never authorized. I realized right away this must be what happened.
I called USBI, who I found out is the billing company for LD Services, and explained the problem that I had been "slammed" and they were helpful in searching the records and giving me a credit for the difference in charges.
The representative asked me what I was normally charged with my original service and credited me without any hassle. I am supposed to receive the credit through my local phone company within 1-2 billing cycles.
I was then instructed by the helpful USBI representative to call LD Services itself and the USBI representative gave me the number, (866)469-0829. When I called I was told that there was no information in the computer under my number YET my phone number WAS in there. WHY THE HELL DO THEY HAVE MY NUMBER BUT NO INFO???
I then called AT&T and my local telephone company to trace records (a very trying process) to see how far back LD Services had been charging me.
At this point I will have to file a complaint through the local Public Utilities Commission to get access to records going farther back and to hopefully file an investigation or suit against LD Services.
This "Slamming" and "Cramming" shit is the straw that has broken this camel's back and I am not putting up with this bullshit anymore. Why do we as consumers have to be warned against this by our phone companies when THEY are the ones that are responsible. Why should I have to keep constant tabs on who my long-distance company is. It is THEIR responsibility and they should have to deal with it at NO cost to us!!!
Ryan
Columbia, South Carolina
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