State regulators have also acted. The telephone industry is trying to prevent a regulatory or legislative solution, and in July enacted voluntary guidelines. Now, many of the nation's 1,000 telephone companies automatically remove contested charges from their bills. Starting next year, Bell Atlantic, the nation's largest regional Bell telephone company with 30 million customers, will allow customers to block any ''miscellaneous'' services to their phone. But that could make it difficult for consumers to take advantage of legitimate services offered through the phone company, said Paul Miller, a Bell Atlantic spokesman.
Regulators say there are less radical, but possibly less effective, ways to combat cramming.
First, consumers should scrutinize every piece of paper they sign. According to New York State Attorney General Dennis Vacco, an outfit called the Veterans of America gathered victims' phone numbers and addresses by getting them to enter a sweepstakes at New York's state fair last year. Be careful when calling unfamiliar 800 or 900 numbers, and be especially cautious about entering activation code numbers or answering ''yes'' over the phone to any questions. Your voice may be recorded and used to try to prove that you ordered the services in question. If you've been crammed, first call your local phone company.