AT&T ACCUSES RESELLER OF SLAMMING.BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 1995--AT&T has filed a complaint with federal regulators accusing a long distance reseller An organization that sells hardware and software to the general public. Resellers purchase products from software publishers and hardware manufacturers. of "slamming The unauthorized switching of your long distance telephone provider. Unethical marketing organizations contact the local telephone company and claim that certain customers have authorized them to handle their long distance. "--the practice of changing a customer's long-distance carrier without the customer's authorization. AT&T's complaint alleges that National Accounts, Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., misrepresented an affiliation with AT&T, and has switched customers from AT&T to National Accounts without the customers' knowledge or agreement. AT&T's complaint to the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. describes how National Accounts representatives falsely told customers that National Accounts is affiliated with AT&T, or that National Accounts "markets and administers" AT&T service. In some instances National Accounts claimed it was "employed by AT&T." Where National Accounts' misrepresentations were unsuccessful in inducing AT&T's customers to switch their service to National Accounts, the reseller would frequently "slam" those customers in any event, AT&T said. Under authority of the Communications Act The establishment of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1934, the regulatory body for interstate and foreign telecommunications. Its mission is to provide high-quality services at reasonable cost to everyone in the U.S. on a nondiscriminatory basis. of 1934, AT&T has asked the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. to stop National Accounts from continuing these practices, and to award AT&T damages to be determined by the commission. CONTACT: Karen Way 908/221-6632 (office) 908/545-0225 (home) or Mona Williams 908/221-4355 (office) 908/647-8191 (home) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion