San Diego Phone Firm Accused of Fraud

The Utility Consumers’ Action Network, a San Diego-based consumer group, has filed a complaint with state regulators accusing Genesis Communications International Inc. of “fraud, unlawful billing schemes and privacy violations” in offering local phone service to Latinos in California. Charles Carbone of UCAN said four test customers encountered varying prices, requirements for $100 security deposits and requests for private information such as Social Security numbers and annual income figures. The San Diego-based phone company, which has about 60,000 long-distance customers and about 15,000 local phone customers, has denied the allegations. “They’re making a lot of allegations that have no foundation,” said Genesis President Derek Gietzen. The state Public Utilities Commission will decide whether to act on the complaint after the company files a formal response.