Cal. consumer watchdog group accused SBC/Pacific Bell of cramming...
Cal. consumer watchdog group accused SBC/Pacific Bell of cramming unauthorized DSL charges onto customer bills, but Pac Bell called allegation “absurd.” In complaint to Cal. PUC, Utility Consumer Action Network (UCAN) alleged Pac Bell had crammed DSL charges onto…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
bills of at least 3 customers who never ordered service and that 3 named in complaint were representative of “substantially larger” number of users suffering unauthorized billing of DSL charges. UCAN also alleged that when customers disputed charges, Pac Bell threatened them with local exchange disconnection or toll restriction. Pac Bell denied intentional cramming. It said billing mistakes could occur and might take longer to correct when resolution of problem involved both Pac Bell and affiliates. Pac Bell’s formal answer to complaint (Case 02- 01-007) is due Feb. 11, with prehearing conference Feb. 19. Meanwhile, Cal. PUC is scheduled to vote Feb. 21 on settlement proposal for interim deaveraging of SBC/Pacific Bell’s unbundled network element (UNE) rates. Settlement recommended by PUC administrative law judge, involving Pac Bell, AT&T and WorldCom, would divide Bell’s territory into 3 cost zones. Interim rates would be at levels originally proposed by Pac Bell, including 25% difference in UNE rates between lowest and highest cost zones. Pact also would set up procedure for allocating universal service subsidies from Cal. High Cost Fund B to CLECs providing local service via unbundled loops. Agreement would remain in effect until PUC set permanent deaveraged UNE rates in Case 00-03-002.