Legal Question in Consumer Law in Oregon
Phone Company Billing
Who regulates telephone company billing? I believe that I am being billed for the same monthly service fees by both
my local phone company in Oregon, and by my long distance
carrier. I have called the long distance carrier, and they
refuse to send me more than 6 months previous billing statements, and will not give me information about what their monthly fee is for service. Since I have bills showing that they have billed me and that my local service
provider have billed me for these same fees, what can I do
to find out who owes me a refund? Neither company admits
that they have done anything wrong and claim that the other is responsible. I have contacted my local Attorney General's office in Oregon and they told me I can file a complaint, but they don't give specific legal advice.
Where can I find information about regulation of billing
practices? Are phone companies regulated by State law, or
Federal? I'd like to know how to proceed.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Phone Company Billing
The Oregon Public Utility Commission regulates certain phone companies. There is helpful information on their website at www.puc.state.or.us and you may reach the commission by phone at 1-800-522-2404. The website has information regarding phone charges and informs consumers about how to make complaints. I have found the commission very receptive and helpful with consumer problems. Good luck!
Re: Phone Company Billing
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) may help you, as the previous answer indicates, but they may not. What you are being double billed for is long distance service, not local phone service, and the Commission does not regulate long distance rates. In fact, no one does.
The phone company you are dealing with may claim that they are simply the billing agent for the long distance company and that the Commission cannot regulate the provision of billing agent services.
What you are experiencing is one of the great benefits of "deregulation" and "smaller government," which means that powerful corporations get to cheat you.
I hope that the Commission helps you. If not, call the Oregon Citizens Utility Board (CUB) at 503-227-1984.
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