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Consumer Reports Senior Editor Jeff Blyskal on cell phone companies allegedly placing unauthorized charge on customers’ bills.
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Well it's -- kind so a costly nuisance for consumers that won't go away.
Phone cramming -- it's where companies put charges on your phone bill without your approval you made CNET they hope you don't notice.
Many of us down.
A recent congressional investigation estimated phone customers are rocked to the tune of two billion dollars a year.
We don't what should be a victim so we brought in Jeff black soul from consumer reports.
Jeff welcome to the show thanks for helping us out how is -- that these companies can get these charges on your phone without your approval.
Well the charges are buried on your phone bill basically so that you know you get a phone bills now today your cellphone bill.
Brent and even your wireline phone it is is very complicated a lot of pages there these charges tend to be buried in the back pages.
Very in the back pages -- And they are hoping that you'll never gonna see them right.
Yes and about -- -- only one in twenty people according to -- estimates by the FCC.
Ever notices -- of this charge and the charges they usually -- to anywhere from two dollars to twenty dollars so you might not notice it.
But each and every month that's -- outrage to say the least.
-- there will be got a comment from the wireless association.
To see what they had to say about this they say there is no persuasive evidence that cramming.
Is of white -- -- widespread problem in the wireless industry how do you respond to that.
Well it it is a problem number one.
There was a class action case that was recently settled.
Which involved 488000.
The cell phone users.
And about twelve million dollars in unauthorized charges alleged unauthorized charges so it's happening it's possible to do it.
And the other reason it's a problem is the FCC.
And the phone companies have recently impose some restrictions on.
I'm -- on your land line phone your home phone.
But they left off the you know so they don't apply to cell -- now boy I don't question that Bernard.
Expect GAAP people -- leaving their wireline sounds they're canceling them and you and everybody's got a cellphone now so.
So what's happened is that the criminals are very dynamic and they'll just going to change their tactics from the wire line to the wireless.
Well.
His -- money office I mean obviously these are spammers out doing this but to the phone companies make money to.
Yes the phone companies make money they charge about a dollar to two dollars per transaction so.
There's a third company party which is the bad guys somewhere along the line.
There they actually go in -- in big creek they get your phone number.
And they cause these charges to be created they give it to the phone company in -- phone company charges you.
And then they -- they rake off -- commission on it.
Of course you -- -- look at your bills carefully to prevent from having these fees on your bill but tell me what's your single best idea for not getting taken.
Well.
Very important you can block your -- Account so that they basically call the phone company your cell phone company or your wire -- company.
And tell them you don't want any third party charges on there and that should that should stop it.
Are right Jeff thanks for coming -- that appreciate your time.
