FAQ
Are you being hit by ||RoboCalls||
Illegal pre-recorded “Robocalls” initiated by telemarketers worldwide are a growing annoyance for millions of Americans and are currently the target of an enforcement crackdown by the Federal Trade Commission.
These calls are being made to both landline phones and cell phones.
Technology is the reason for these calls. Companies are using auto-dialers that can send out thousands of phone calls every minute. These auto-dialers are also programmed to continually call certain numbers day and night.
“Robocalls” are using “Caller ID Spoofing” which displays fake Caller ID information on your phone. Telemarketers change the Caller ID information easily and often which makes it very difficult for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local phone company to track the calls.
What should you do if you get a ||Robocall||?
Hang up the phone immediately. Do not press any other number on your telephone keypad. Pressing any additional numbers on your keypad could potentially lead to more “Robocalls”.
The Federal Trade Commission wants to hear from you if you are experiencing “Robocalls”. Simply go to www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov then click on the “Unwanted Telemarketing, Text or Spam” button, then click on “Telemarketing” to file an online complaint or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
To learn what the FTC is currently doing to combat “Robocalling” visit: http:www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0367-robocall-action-plan
What is the Customer Line Charge?
In the early 1980s, with the breakup of the Bell companies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the Customer Line Charge as a way for telephone companies to recover a portion of the costs of providing telephone service from central offices to a residence or business. This money maintains your lines to the highest quality of service available today.
Why are some charges higher for business than for residential customers
Businesses have higher call volume and usage than residential subscribers. Most have several access lines and use various calling features multiple times during the day. Their long distance usage is also higher. If a business subscriber is out of service, their service will be restored before a residential subscriber. The average residential subscriber uses their phone on a limited basis for long distance and features compared to a business.
Why are connection fees and reconnect fees so high, when all you have to do is flip a switch?
We wish that was all we had to do. When taking an application for service, we normally spend 15-20 minutes taking the application explaining different options. When completed the service order is then typed, sent to plant for switch work and plant records updates and returned for billing. Your information is sent to directory assistance, 911, the national database and long distance providers. This happens on all new installations and most disconnections for non-payment. If someone does a name change or address change the sequence is repeated.
What is the difference between interLata and intraLata?
This is a description of the types of calling areas for long-distance. InterLATA calls are placed outside of our local calling area or lata…from one lata to another. IntraLATA calls are placed within our calling area…within the same
Why do some calls come through on the caller ID as ||unavailable||, while other show the name & number?
Because of the different types of telephone company switches used during a long distance call, some information can be dropped such as telephone number or the name. Not all switches can pass the information. If a call starts on the west coast and passes through a switch that cannot pass the information, the information is stopped at that point. Also, subscribers can block their information from going out with a feature commonly called “Caller ID Blocking”.