Phone Company Slamming

[suegeo]

Hey,

I have the flu and this post might not make sense, but please try to follow me through my fever'ed post:

I just got a phone call (8:45 CST) from a guy who i.d.ed himself as a "new local phone company" (I live in a 'burb of Minneapolis)

He asked me if my local phone co. was Qwest (ME: Yes, it is)

He also asked me how much I spend on long distance. And I replied.

Then, he made a mindless comment and hung up on me.

As for me, and the 30 second conversation just ended, I asked myself : "What was THAT phone call all about?" and "Did I just get slammed??"

Suspicions, I checked my caller id and it came up "unknown caller"

My question, to all kind Demo U-grounders out there: Did this jack-ass marketeer just "slam" me (ie. change my long distance carrier without my full agreement)?


If so, how would i know??

If not, what was the objective of that marketeer who made that phone call??

I guess I could ask this in a more clear manner, or research it on my own, BUT, BUT (!!) I swear to the higher power, I HAVE THE FLU~~~~I swear to Mo' Nature: The virus I have should be added to the axis of evil.

Thanks, sorry if i sound like a goof. I blame it on my cold.

[mitchtv]

1. out here in Pac bell

there was a number 700-555-4141 that would identify your LD vendor. try it . but the service order to change vendors may take a few days. what do you get when you dial 00?

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. I had one in Chicago from someone who identified himself from SBC

(our local phone provider). Asked how many long-distance phone calls I made in a month (very few-- also, they get billed separately by AT&T). Asked the jerk to send me some info in the mail for me to review. He said he would. I shall see. Very interesting that you posted this. I just did not want to deal with the decision tonight -- bad week if you know what I mean.

[silverlib]

3. I was recently slammed

and didn't even get a phone call. I have two lines and was only slammed on the main one, which is an unlisted number (the other is not). I didn't know until I got a letter from AT&T (my provider) asking me to come back. I called them and they put me back on their service. They told me they did not have the means to tell me who slammed me, but that I would know when I got the bill, which should have been for about twenty days of service. I fully intended to report them, but never got a bill. AT&T, which probably should not have told me, suspected it was SBC, as they were on a roll. This was about six months ago.

On edit - Hope you get well soon!

[On the Road]

4. Here's What to DO

(I work for the local phone company in Maryland)

Call the business office. They may be open Sat AM. Tell them you may have been slammed and ask to put a freeze on your local and long-distance companies.

This will prevent any other company from putting in an order changing your service. If you change, you will have to call Qwest yourself.