Telephone slamming

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For other uses, see Slamming (disambiguation).

Telephone slamming is an illegal telecommunications practice of changing subscribers' telephone service without their consent. Slamming became a more visible issue after the deregulation of the telecommunications industry in the mid-1980s, especially after several brutal price wars between the major telecommunications companies.

1 How slamming happens
2 Steps to prevent slamming
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] How slamming happens

After AT&T split up into local and long-distance carriers as a result of deregulation, local carriers were responsible for distributing telephone numbers to individuals and businesses. Orders to change long distance carriers were submitted to them, and the local carrier would make the change. In the most common scenario regarding slamming, an employee of a telephone company (usually a telemarketer making outbound calls to prospective clients) will submit an order to change carriers to the local exchange carrier without the approval of the customer.

Slamming can also occur when someone is invited to take a survey or enter a contest. The contests or surveys are usually general in nature, and the participant is unaware that the "small print" on their entry is an authorization to switch their telephone service to another carrier.

Slamming has traditionally meant the selection of another long-distance carrier without the subscriber's consent; however, as the market has expanded, and choice of local long-distance service and local service providers has increased over the last 10 years, there have been some instances of slamming for those services as well. There have also been cases of slamming for secondary services (such as voice mail, etc.)

[edit] Steps to prevent slamming

Most local carriers have instituted a number of steps to prevent slamming. Subscribers can request a "freeze" on their long distance and local long-distance services. This means that no changes will take place unless the local carrier receives a request from the service provider in writing.

Consumers should be sure to read their telephone bill and question any charges they don't recognize. Bills must contain the name and logo of any company whose charges are appearing on your bill. (See cramming for more information about other types of charges that may appear on your bill.)

Because of repeated complaints from consumers, and legislative actions at the state and federal level, companies are now required to submit any verbal request for change of services to a third party verification services. The third party verification service will record the conversation and verify that the person calling does indeed want to select a new long-distance carrier or in some way change their service(s).

Consumers should verbally decline any telemarketer offer if they do not wish to change their services, or if they are unfamiliar with the company or the services offered.

If a consumer is unsure whether they have been a victim of slamming, or is not sure who their current long distance telephone provider is, they can call (700) 555-4141. This toll free number will automatically play them a brief recorded greeting from the long-distance company that they are subscribed to.