| For Immediate Release | CONTACT: | Holly Anderson, ext. 114 |
| October 20, 1997 | ||
| (202) 835-3323 | ||
MILWAUKEE.... Phone slamming is more prevalent than previously reported and affects African Americans and Latinos more than others according to a new Louis Harris and Associates poll released today by the National Consumers League (NCL).
"The League's National Fraud Information Center hotline has seen a rise in slamming complaints. The Harris survey shows that the problem is much more pervasive but also that it hits minority communities harder than others," stated NCL's Vice President, Cleo Manuel.
Phone slamming is the unauthorized switching of your long distance or regional phone service.
Joining the League in warning the public about slamming are consumer groups that have been actively fighting the problem, the Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection and the United Community Center. Recent victims of slamming have also come forward to share their experience.
"The Lou Harris poll confirms our feeling that slamming is pervasive in the midwest. That's why Wisconsin passed a new rule making slamming illegal in the state. We have joined this effort to warn residents and educate them about this egregious scheme," stated Bill Oemichen, Administrator, Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection.
The survey revealed that the likelihood of being slammed or knowing someone who has been slammed, increases with household income, level of education, the amount spent on an average phone bill, and is higher among African Americans and Latinos than Whites.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also seen a rise in complaints. It received 11,278 slamming complaints in 1995 and more than 16,000 in 1996.
Consumers who have been slammed have several rights under Federal law. FCC rules state that consumers have a right to be switched back at no charge. The regulations also allow consumers to be rebilled at the rate their original carrier charges. Consumers may have other rights under state law.
Consumers can find out who their current long distance carrier is by calling toll-free, 700-555-4141. To check your local toll carrier, call 1 + area code + 700-4141. The League recommends consumers call the 700# ten days after receiving a telephone solicitation for long distance services which they have rejected.
In conjunction with this educational effort, the League is releasing a survival tip sheet to help people avoid slamming. It is available for free by calling NCL at 800/355-9625 or at www.nclnet.org
The League commissioned the Louis Harris and Associates survey in September 1997. The survey interviewed 1,500 consumers in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. The margin of error is plus or minus 4. The National Consumers League received a grant from Ameritech to fund this consumer education project. This is part of a larger effort to educate consumers and small business owners on telephone issues.
For more information, write or call the National Consumers League at 1701 K Street, N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 835-3323. Log on to NCL at www.nclnet.org and NFIC at www.fraud.org.
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. NCL's three-pronged approach of research, education and advocacy has made it an effective representative and source of information for consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to representing consumers on issues of concern.