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It used to be that “cramming” was associated with students pulling an all-nighter before a big test in order to digest as much study material as possible. The definition of “cramming” began to change a decade ago when less than scrupulous businesses began to place unauthorized charges on consumer’s phone bills.
Sneaky little charges are once again making their way onto telephone bills and can go unnoticed for months. Consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) demonstrate how victims of cramming often face a tough battle to stop being billed every month and start getting their money back.
In order to fight cramming, the BBB recommends keeping a close eye on every bill and being extremely cautious when giving out personal information such as phone numbers.
You might think that nothing bad can happen from giving out your telephone number, but you should guard those digits like you would a credit card or social security number. Monitor your monthly statements closely because even if you are very protective of your personal information, cramming can still strike.
Cramming is on the rise according to the Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an interview with MSNBC. These unwanted charges can come from any number of sources. Some victims may have inadvertently signed up for a subscription service --such as for “free” ringtones or a daily joke or horoscopes-- not realizing they would be billed every month.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently cracked down on one company that used telemarketers to convince people into signing up for “free” trial services and then placed recurring charges on phone bills.
The BBB recommends taking the following five steps to fight cramming:
Keep a close eye on monthly statements. Anyone can become a victim of cramming so monitoring your monthly bills is extremely important. The sooner you spot the charges, the sooner you can fight them.
Know your rights. Contact your telephone provider to see if you can completely restrict third-party billing on your account.
Know whom you can trust online. Before handing over any personal information online, always research the business with your BBB.
Guard your personal information, including phone numbers, closely. Be wary when asked to provide personal information to sign up for a free trial or enter a sweepstakes. Always read the fine print on any offer so you understand how your personal information may be used.
Know where to complain. If you are unable to resolve the issue either through your telephone provider or directly with the business, file a complaint with the FCC for charges related to telephone service and FTC for all other cramming charges on your phone bill. You can also file a complaint with the BBB.
About Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson is president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania region.
It used to be that “cramming” was associated with students pulling an all-nighter before a big test in order to digest as much study material as possible. The definition of “cramming” began to change a decade ago when less than scrupulous businesses began to place unauthorized charges on consumer’s phone bills.
Sneaky little charges are once again making their way onto telephone bills and can go unnoticed for months. Consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) demonstrate how victims of cramming often face a tough battle to stop being billed every month and start getting their money back.
In order to fight cramming, the BBB recommends keeping a close eye on every bill and being extremely cautious when giving out personal information such as phone numbers.
You might think that nothing bad can happen from giving out your telephone number, but you should guard those digits like you would a credit card or social security number. Monitor your monthly statements closely because even if you are very protective of your personal information, cramming can still strike.
Cramming is on the rise according to the Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an interview with MSNBC. These unwanted charges can come from any number of sources. Some victims may have inadvertently signed up for a subscription service --such as for “free” ringtones or a daily joke or horoscopes-- not realizing they would be billed every month.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently cracked down on one company that used telemarketers to convince people into signing up for “free” trial services and then placed recurring charges on phone bills.
The BBB recommends taking the following five steps to fight cramming:
Keep a close eye on monthly statements. Anyone can become a victim of cramming so monitoring your monthly bills is extremely important. The sooner you spot the charges, the sooner you can fight them.
Know your rights. Contact your telephone provider to see if you can completely restrict third-party billing on your account.
Know whom you can trust online. Before handing over any personal information online, always research the business with your BBB.
Guard your personal information, including phone numbers, closely. Be wary when asked to provide personal information to sign up for a free trial or enter a sweepstakes. Always read the fine print on any offer so you understand how your personal information may be used.
Know where to complain. If you are unable to resolve the issue either through your telephone provider or directly with the business, file a complaint with the FCC for charges related to telephone service and FTC for all other cramming charges on your phone bill. You can also file a complaint with the BBB.
About Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson is president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving the eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania region.
