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Qwest Fined $20 Million For 'Slamming'
Company Accused Of Switching Customers' Phone Service
POSTED: 8:02 a.m. MDT October 25, 2002
UPDATED: 3:38 p.m. MDT October 25, 2002
DENVER -- California regulators have fined phone giant Qwest Communications International and a subsidiary $20 million for switching the long-distance service of thousands of Californians without permission, a practice known as "slamming."
The five-member Public Utilities Commission on Thursday unanimously ruled Qwest and LCI International Communications' marketing activities during 1999 and 2000 violated the state's
public utilities code.
The PUC found that Denver-based Qwest "slammed" thousands of Californians by failing to adequately supervise sales agents. The PUC also said third-party verification tapes and letters authorizing the switches were falsified.
Qwest says it has corrected the problems and calls the ruling "grossly excessive."
If you've been slammed it's important for you to know that you do not have to pay the carrier who slammed you, or your authorized phone carrier, for 30 days after you've been slammed.
After the 30 days, you have to pay for any services to your authorized phone company.
You can pay at that authorized phone company's rates -- not the slammer's higher rates.
Slammers usually charge about twice as much as what your original carrier charges, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
And if you have been slammed, you can get a refund for anything above what you would have paid your authorized carrier.
To file a telephone complaint, go to www.fcc.gov/slamming.
The five-member Public Utilities Commission on Thursday unanimously ruled Qwest and LCI International Communications' marketing activities during 1999 and 2000 violated the state's
public utilities code.
The PUC found that Denver-based Qwest "slammed" thousands of Californians by failing to adequately supervise sales agents. The PUC also said third-party verification tapes and letters authorizing the switches were falsified.
Qwest says it has corrected the problems and calls the ruling "grossly excessive."
If you've been slammed it's important for you to know that you do not have to pay the carrier who slammed you, or your authorized phone carrier, for 30 days after you've been slammed.
After the 30 days, you have to pay for any services to your authorized phone company.
You can pay at that authorized phone company's rates -- not the slammer's higher rates.
Slammers usually charge about twice as much as what your original carrier charges, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
And if you have been slammed, you can get a refund for anything above what you would have paid your authorized carrier.
To file a telephone complaint, go to www.fcc.gov/slamming.
Previous Stories:
- October 2, 2002: Getting Mysterious Charges On Your Phone Bill?
- October 2, 2002: Former Qwest Exec Grilled Over Business Dealings
- October 1, 2002: More Qwest Executives Testify On Capitol Hill
- September 27, 2002: Qwest Founder Under Congressional Scrutiny
- August 23, 2002: Qwest Employees Locked Out Of Buying Company Stock
- August 13, 2002: Qwest To Pay $1 Million Plus In Landmark Settlement
- August 8, 2002: Qwest Posts $1.1 Billion Loss
- July 29, 2002: Qwest To Restate Earnings From 1999 To 2001
- July 10, 2002: Qwest Subject Of Criminal Investigation
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








