The People's Pages

 

NEW: California judge rules early cell phone termination fees illegal

 

Cell phone companies thrive by STEALING your money because of the numerous loopholes in city, state, and federal laws that allow them to overcharge you with what they claim are "taxes".  These "taxes" are inconsistent; the fees change frequently without explanation and the company gets away with this using restrictive contracts that are outright extortion. 

As always, in a society that caters to large corporations at the expense of The People, it is almost impossible to find the information you need to obtain the assistance of your governments to make these corporations culpable.

The procedures you need to take to obtain any justice are NOT standardized on a universal scale, so the myriad of laws-by-locale (where you live, where the headquarters of the company are, which local laws govern the company's practices, etc.) are all EXCUSES these companies use to avoid operating with fair business practices.

Big companies count on you becoming frustrated and not wanting to take the time to investigate what options for justice are available to you and most people are too lazy to be bothered. 

So, I have done the research for you and you have no excuse not to be a part of the solution instead of allowing the problem to flourish and thrive.

As long as We, The People, do not insist that laws are enacted and enforced to protect us from the continuation of outright robbery by these companies (and other utilities), you and the people you care about will be taken advantage of while thieves grow richer with each passing minute.

If you are tired of being ripped off by your cell phone company, here are the steps that you MUST take in order for anything to happen - not just for you, but on a larger scale.  A few minutes of your time now can save you hours of grief in your future.  Take back your power and use it for the greater good.

 

1. - WRITE to your cell phone provider's Customer Service Department and keep copies of ALL correspondence.  It is necessary to contact the company first to prove that their actions are negligent - which is usually the inevitable outcome of complaints made to these companies.
 

• Send an email AND a snail mail version to their corporate headquarters.

• The email will give you a time-and-date-stamped receipt of your email to the company to keep for your records.

• TIP:  Most of these companies require you to fill out an online form.  Copy the text you provide on the form and send it to yourself in an email as a back-up copy for your records.
  

• DO NOT CALL and speak to representatives - that's what the companies want you to do so that there is no paper trail to prove anything you are misled to believe.  Insist that all correspondence is in writing.

• Find your cell phone company's corporate headquarters here: 

http://www.hearusnow.org/index.php?id=245

 

2. - "CC" (carbon copy - list the organizations that you send copies of your correspondence to) at the end of your complaint.  Doing this allows the company to see that a paper trail of accountability is being created.  Send copies of your complaints the following, where you may also find information:

• Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint Form

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup

• Federal Communications Commission Wireless Communications Bureau website:

http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/

• While the FCC licenses wireless providers and logs consumer complaints, it doesn't force companies to answer consumers through threat of a fine or other penalty.  This is why you have to seduce your government representatives with the opportunity to propose legislation that will definitely attract voters to them.

• Your public advocate.  Each state has a public advocacy agency that is designed to help you fight the injustices that businesses try to and get away with every day.  Use a search engine to find your state's "public advocate".   A good set of guidelines for making complaints against your cell phone company are listed on The State of Delaware's Public Advocate's website:

http://publicadvocate.delaware.gov/FILE/faqs.shtml

• Your State Attorney General's Office and your State's Public Utility Commission.  Many times, the public utility commission does not govern cell phone service in your state, but if enough complaints come to them, some politicians seeking votes will (hopefully) get the idea to allow this commission to get involved for The People.  Find your State Attorney General's Office:

http://www.the-cell-phone-advisor.com/State-Attorney-General-Complaints.html

• Your Senator, Congressional Representative, and the representatives in smaller offices who can assist The People in lobbying their Senators, etc.  Find your:

Senator:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm 

 Congressperson:

 http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

 

3. - Use this List of Resources to file cell phone complaints:

http://www.the-cell-phone-advisor.com/file-your-cell-phone-complaint.html

 

Other Services

 

The National Do Not Call Registry

http://wwww.donotcall.gov/

 

Unwanted Text Messaging

Under the FCC’s rules, commercial e-mail messages may only be sent to your wireless device via the Internet if you have provided your “express prior authorization.  For more information:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/canspam.html

 

Wireless Domain Name List

 
The FCC requires all wireless service providers to provide all Internet domain names used to transmit electronic messages to wireless devices.  View this list on its Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/DomainNameDownload.html.

 

Senders are prohibited from sending commercial email messages to any Internet domain name on this list without the recipient's express prior authorization. Senders have 30 days from the date the domain name is posted on the FCC site to stop sending unauthorized commercial e-mail to Internet addresses containing the domain name. Wireless service providers must add new domain names to the FCC's list within 30 days of activating them.

 

You may file a complaint with the FCC by email (fccinfo@fcc.gov);
the Internet (www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html);
telephone 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice; or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY

 

Other Resources

Chamber of Commerce
http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/Public/index.cfm?objectid=CAABF6EB-1422-74FF-323A7893DB196F98

Internet Related Problems http://onguardonline.gov/filecomplaint.html

 

Fantastic Cell Phone Resource Site:

http://www.the-cell-phone-advisor.com/index.html 

 

Federal Citizen Information Center (A-Z file complaints)

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/complaintresources.htm

 

Now, do your part and you're welcome for the work I've done.