Consumers Benefit From Illinois Commerce Commission Emergency Order Requiring MCI WorldCom to End Slamming and Deceptive Marketing Practices, Says SBC Ameritech Illinois.Business Editors & High Tech Writers Illinois consumers benefit from the emergency action today by the Illinois Commerce Commission ordering MCI (1) (Media Control Interface) A high-level programming interface from Microsoft and IBM for controlling multimedia devices. It provides commands and functions to open, play and close the device. (2) (Microwave Communications Inc. WorldCom to refrain from slamming and deceptive sales and marketing practices directed at SBC (1) (SBC Communications Inc., San Antonio, TX, www.sbc.com) A large, national telecommunications company that grew from a multitude of local and regional companies, including Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell, into a single, unified brand by 2002. Ameritech Illinois (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :SBC) customers. Slamming is changing a customer's telecommunications provider without their authorization. The Commission affirmed an order issued Tuesday by an ICC ICC See: International Chamber of Commerce administrative law judge administrative law judge n. a professional hearing officer who works for the government to preside over hearings and appeals involving governmental agencies. They are generally experienced in the particular subject matter of the agency involved or of several agencies. that granted SBC Ameritech Illinois "emergency relief" following almost 1,000 consumer complaints by SBC Ameritech Illinois customers against MCI between November 2001 and May 2002. These complaints charge MCI with switching SBC Ameritech Illinois customers to MCI without their authorization, and other deceptive sales and marketing practices, including MCI representatives indicating that MCI had 'merged with Ameritech' or was 'assuming Ameritech accounts,' apparently as a ploy to get the SBC Ameritech Illinois customer to switch to MCI. "We applaud the Commission's action to protect customers from MCI's pattern of deceptive and illegal conduct," said Carrie Hightman, president, SBC Ameritech Illinois. "MCI had refused to acknowledge a problem or to cease these improper practices." The emergency relief order will be followed by a full Commission review during the next couple of months into MCI's illegal conduct. Emergency relief is granted to prevent irreparable harm to the injured party when there is a likelihood that the injured party will prevail on the merits on the merits adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling of a court based upon the facts presented in evidence and the law applied to that evidence. A judge decides a case "on the merits" when he/she bases the decision on the fundamental issues and considers when the full case is heard. Consumers who have been slammed have the right to be returned to their local service provider of choice at no cost. Consumers can report complaints 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. at 1-888-CALL-FCC; or to the ICC at 1-800-524-0795. SBC customers also can call 1-800-244-4444 for more information. SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is one of the world's leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through its world-class network and its subsidiaries' trusted brands - SBC Southwestern Bell, SBC Ameritech, SBC Pacific Bell, SBC Nevada Bell, SBC SNET n. 1. The fat of a deer. v. t. 1. The clear of mucus; to blow. and Sterling Commerce - SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 27 company, America's leading provider of high-speed DSL Internet Access services, and one of the nation's leading Internet Service Providers, SBC companies currently serve nearly 60 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC owns 60 percent of America's second largest wireless company -- Cingular Wireless -- which serves more than 21 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 28 countries. SOURCE: SBC Ameritech |
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