New State Measure Targets Unauthorized Phone Charges

In an effort to crack down on unauthorized phone charges, a Northern California lawmaker has introduced legislation that would give the state Public Utilities Commission more authority over companies that “cram” fees on consumers’ bills without consent.

The measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown (D-Sonoma), would amend the Customer Service Act of 1993 by requiring phone companies and other telecommunications firms to obtain customers’ consent before adding a charge for Internet access, voicemail, paging, 900-number calls or other services on their local phone bills.

The consent must be given in writing or over the phone to the service provider.

It also requires that the name, business address and phone number of the service provider be made available to the customer on the bill or by the billing company.

The legislation was drafted by Brown, the PUC and telecom carriers in response to an increase in cramming, in which firms place unauthorized charges on customers’ phone bills.

Pacific Bell, a local phone company that often handles billing for these outside services, said it approves of Brown’s measure.