BUCKS WATCH
AT&T Local and Long Distance Charges on the Rise Again - Subscribers to AT&T's One Rate 7¢ Plan and Call Plan Deluxe - Nevada will be getting hit with another round of fee increases in November. Consumers on the One Rate 7¢ plan will see a $1.00 increase in their monthly recurring charge (MRC), effective November 1, 2004. Subscribers to this plan are currently charged a MRC of anywhere from $3.95 to $5.95 depending on whether they have also chosen online billing and/or to have AT&T carry their IntraLATA calls (also known as "regional toll" or "local toll") in addition to their state-to-state long distance calls. No matter which option was chosen, however, the MRC will increase by $1 on November 1. Subscribers to AT&T's One Rate 7¢ Plus Plan (AKA - The Anytime Plan) will also see their MRC's increase by $1 from $4.95 to $5.95. Finally, subscribers to AT&T's Call Plan Deluxe - Nevada calling plan will see their MRC increase from $29.95 to $30.95, effective November 5, 2004. For more information on these rate increases, click here(i).
Wireless Spending Now Biggest Telecom Expense, Says Study - The average U.S. household is now spending $47.87 per month on wireless service -- 30% of the total average telecommunications bill of $158.88 -- according to a new study from TNS Telecoms, a telecommunications research firm. Wireline spending accounted for only 29% of the average monthly telecommunications bill, said the study, marking the first time that wireless spending has overtaken wireline spending. Also included in the total average telecommunications bill was cable/satellite TV ($43.54 per month) and Internet ($20.77 per month). The average household wireline bill breaks down as follows: $35.82 for local service, $1.27 for local toll/IntraLATA, and $8.20 for long distance. It should come as no surprise that wireless continues to replace wireline as the communications medium of choice for a growing number of consumers. However, consumers should use this data as an impetus to examine their overall telecommunications spending. Many consumers are now overspending on telecommunications costs. Unless they make frequent international calls, consumers who already have included long distance in their wireless plans may want to consider saving money by dumping their traditional wireline long distance provider altogether. For more information on the TNS Telecoms study, click here(ii).
SCAM WATCH
Beware of the *72 Call Forwarding Scam - An old scam has been rearing its ugly head in recent months and consumers need to be on the lookout. The scam usually begins with a seemingly urgent phone call asking to get in touch with a loved one and claiming to have "accidentally" dialed the wrong number. The scammer claims to have been arrested and to desperately need to call a family member to come pick up their stranded child from the police station, school, playground, etc. The scam artist claims that since they only get to make one phone call from jail they badly need you to dial *72 followed by the "correct" phone number to forward their call on to their desired recipient. In fact, for consumers who have the call forwarding option on their accounts, doing this forwards ALL of their subsequent incoming calls to the number given. The con artist can then use the victim's phone as a relay to make long distance calls, racking up huge bills that the victim is then on the hook to pay. Consumers can avoid this scam by never using the call forwarding option on their accounts except when THEY want their calls forwarded. For more information on this scam, click here(iii).
Keep Calling Cards Out of Sight in Public Places - Consumers away from home often make use of calling cards as an easy way to stay in touch with their families and offices. Crooks take advantage by stealing calling cards in order to run so-called "call-sell" operations using stolen calling card numbers and other means to illegally sell domestic and international telephone calls to the public for $5 or $10 per call. There are some common sense tips consumers should use to avoid being hit by these fraudsters. First, users should be especially wary when using calling cards in public places such as airports, train and bus stations, and hotel lobbies which often have large banks of public payphones. Scam artists loiter in these areas so that they can observe and record the calling card numbers of callers using the payphones. Consumers should stand directly in front of the payphone as they key in the 14-digit calling card number to obstruct the view of any possible scammer. Callers making operator assisted phone calls should speak at normal volume and be aware of their surroundings since a fraudster could listen in and copy down the calling card number. Consumers who use their calling cards frequently should try to memorize their calling card number since a crook could try to spy the number as the card is being removed from a wallet or purse. For more tips on avoiding calling card fraud, click here(iv).
INTERESTING LINKS
FCC Main Page - http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Complaint Form - http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
List of State Regulatory Commissions - http://www.naruc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=15
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Endnotes
