{"id":36066,"date":"2008-03-26T16:35:41","date_gmt":"2008-03-26T21:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/uncategorized\/truth-in-billing-for-telephone-bills.html"},"modified":"2008-03-26T16:35:41","modified_gmt":"2008-03-26T21:35:41","slug":"truth-in-billing-for-telephone-bills","status":"publish","type":"corporate","link":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/law-library\/truth-in-billing-for-telephone-bills.html","title":{"rendered":"Truth-in-Billing For Telephone Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

CONSUMER INFORMATION<\/strong><\/font><\/td><\/tr><\/table><\/center>
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554<\/strong><\/center>

<\/p>

Truth-in-Billing<\/font> For Telephone Bills<\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/center>

The FCC has seen a tremendous growth in consumer complaints directly or indirectly arising out of the failure of telephone bills to provide consumers with essential information in a clear and conspicuous manner. Consumer confusion over telephone bills has significantly contributed to the growth of slamming, cramming and other types of telecommunications fraud.<\/font><\/p>

Slamming is a term used to describe any practice that changes a telephone subscriber's preferred telephone company to another company without the subscriber's knowledge or consent. Cramming is a term oftentimes used to describe the practice of placing unauthorized, misleading, or deceptive charges on consumers' telephone bills.<\/font><\/p>

Entities that engage in these practices appear to rely heavily on consumer confusion over telephone bills to mislead consumers into paying for services that were not authorized or received.<\/font><\/p>

This brochure summarizes the actions the FCC has taken to ensure that consumers have the information they need to determine what services have been provided, the charges assessed for those services, and which entities provided those services.<\/font><\/p>

This basic information will empower consumers to protect themselves from telecommunications fraud and to make informed choices when they shop around in the competitive telecommunications marketplace to find the best deal for the services they want to use.<\/font><\/p>

This brochure also includes tips for consumers on how protect themselves from telecommunications fraud and save money.<\/font><\/p>

Charges, Changes and Contacts The FCC's Three C's for Consumer Protection<\/strong><\/font><\/font><\/p>

The FCC has proposed the following "truth-in-billing" guidelines that will improve consumer understanding of their telephone bills:<\/font><\/p>