Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!problem!compus!lethe!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: ehopper@ehpcb.wlk.com (Ed Hopper)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Don't Pay For Slamming
Message-ID: <15404@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 90 11:58:08 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575
Lines: 40
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 881, Message 2 of 10


Paul.Schleck@iugate.unomaha.edu (Paul Schleck) writes:

> A friend of mine called the 1-800 number to inquire about personal 1-800
> service.  At the end of the call, she clearly stated that she did NOT
> want to sign up for the service.  A few days later, she tried to place an
> operator-assisted call and got an MCI operator.  Further inquiries and
> calling of the 1-700 number indicated that she had INDEED been switched
> from AT&T to MCI!  The charges were about the same per call, so she
> didn't raise a stink about it after they graciously switched it back.

No, no, no!  The fact that charges may be the same are irrelevant.
These are ill-gotten gains.  I cannot speak to the legalities,
however, when I was slammed some years ago from AT&T to Sprint, I
refused to pay for the Sprint portion of the bill AT ALL.

I suspect that if one bellows long enough one can get the calls
written off.  In my case, I refused to even begin dealing with a
service rep.  Slamming me was a grevious wrong committed against me by
Sprint.  As such, I insisted in dealing with a management person.
Keep going up the ladder until you are satisfied.

Perhaps if everyone insisted on free service after slamming, the
practice would stop.


Ed Hopper

 BBS: 713-997-7575  ehopper@attmail.com  ehopper@ehpcb.wlk.com
 coming soon:ehopper@ncr.att.com ????!!!!!  :-)


[Moderator's Note: They may be 'ill-gotten gains' to the slamming
carrier as you point out, but your failure to pay *at least the amount
you anticipated paying for the call you placed* is an unjust
enrichment to yourself. Strictly speaking, you must pay for calls you
place. This is required by tariff. But you also have the right to sue
the carrier for tampering / interfering with your existing service.
After all, they caused you to get disconnected from your long distance
carrier of choice, did they not?   PAT]