"Slamming" is a term used to describe any practice that changes a consumer's long distance carrier without the customer's knowledge or consent. The Federal Communications Commission's policies and rules prohibit slamming and the Commission enforces these policies and rules through investigation of individual complaints and patterns of slamming practices.

Customers have the right to use any long distance carrier they choose and to change carriers whenever they wish because different companies charge different rates, some much higher than others.

FCC rules require a long distance company to obtain a customer's authorization in order to change his or her long distance service. One method of obtaining this authorization is by a Letter of Agency (LOA), provided by a long distance company, in which the customer, in writing, says that he or she wishes to switch long distance companies.

The Commission's policies also protect consumers who receive higher bills as a result of being slammed. These consumers will be required to pay only the toll charges they would have paid to the original long distance carrier.

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