Seven companies have agreed to pay a total of $1.2 million in penalties to settle charges that they changed consumers’ long distance carriers without authorization (“slamming”) and placing unauthorized charges for services on consumer bills (“cramming”).
The penalties are part of a settlement between the Enforcement Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the companies. The companies include Business Network Long Distance, Inc. (located in Denver, CO), Communications Network Billing, Inc. (Reno, NV), Integrated Services, Inc. (Northbrook, IL), Multiline Long Distance, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH), National Access Long Distance, Inc. (Henderson, NV), Nationwide Long Distance Service, Inc. (Southfield, MI), and Network Service Billing, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV).
As part of their settlement with the FCC, each of the companies is also required to adopt a comprehensive and rigorous compliance plan to prevent future slamming and cramming activities.
Consumers who believe that they may have been victims of slamming or cramming activities can file a complaint with the FCC.
Photo by frankieleon 
