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FCC Plans $2.4 Million Slamming, Cramming Fine for LDCB

The FCC proposed a $2.4 million fine for Long Distance Consolidated Billing Co. for allegedly switching consumers' phone service to other carriers without their authorization (slamming) and adding unauthorized charges to their bills (cramming). A notice of apparent liability released…

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Thursday said LDCB, a reseller, also deceptively marketed its services to consumers in carrying out its alleged slamming and cramming scheme. "It is unacceptable for any company to pad unauthorized charges on bills or trick consumers into changing their preferred phone company,” said Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC Enforcement Bureau, in a news release. The FCC said it reviewed more than 70 complaints against LDCB in which consumers charged the company switched their toll service provider without their authorization, with LDCB's telemarketer sometimes pretending to work for the consumers' own carrier. The FCC noted the investigation also found that LDCB placed unauthorized charges on local phone bills. An LDCB representative said the company had no comment.