Walsh said customers may call the Pubic Utility Commission to complain about fraudulent charges that appear on their phone bills. Telephone companies itemize these charges with such names so they escape customer scrutiny. Walsh said Texas' PUC has squeezed concessions out of some offenders in the form of cash settlements and requiring the companies to pay their employees on an hourly rather than commissioned basis. Corrections on bills take about two months to show up, Walsh said. Callers should be prepared to send a photocopy of their bill with the phony charges and the PUC will try to get the charges reversed.
Consumers can also call their billing company and complain on their own.
Walsh said the elderly are especially susceptible to phone scams because they cave more easily to pressure tactics or pay the fraudulent charges fearing damaged credit ratings or service disconnections. Walsh said younger people tend to be more stubborn and simply refuse to hand over money for services neither rendered nor wanted. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement . We also have a Privacy Policy .