UCAN

Big business really wants to shove the $700 billion bailout down America's throat. AT&T and others want to scare us into supporting the bailout.

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Power Net Global (PNG) customers have reported to UCAN that their local AT&T bills show they've been switched to a new long distance carrier called Williams Communications.  Although PNG insisted customers received notice of this change, not one customer reported ever seeing any notice.  PNG told UCAN it had an agreement with AT&T not to charge UCAN customers.  AT&T said it had no information about any agreement.  So, what should customers do if they see these charges by Williams Communications?  Immediately call PNG at 1-877-441-6096 and let the company know that UCAN was promised all charges would be credited.

UCAN is distressed at calls from relatives of AT&T customers trying to cancel service for deceased parents.  And when we say "trying", that's exactly what is meant both literally and figuratively.  Without the account passwords, cancellation of service for deceased persons is almost impossible.  A FierceTelecom article written by Doug Mohney summed up the problem and provided two examples showing consumers in two states are not happy with these AT&T billing and cancellation practices.  Read More.

The 442 area code is invading North (San Diego) County. Can it be stopped from wiping out 760? The PUC has the final say, but you can e-mail the PUC to demand an overlay so you keep your current 760 area code. The options are:

1. 760 / 442 Overlay - You keep the 760 area code for your current number and get 442 area code for new numbers.

2. Split - You get 442 as your new area code.

E-mail the PUC at public.advisor [at] cpuc [dot] ca [dot] gov demanding implementation of the overlay and read more at Keep760.org for details on why the overlay is better for North County residents and businesses.

UCAN agrees with other consumer groups that the lengthy AT&T contract received by most residential customers was a shot in the arm alarm announcing price increases were coming and that we should be prepared for a raise in basic local telephone service.  Well, Thursday on 9/18/08, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved price hikes of up to $3.25 per month on land line phones for next year through 2010.   

Several UCAN members have contacted us about AT&T's new 16-page Residential Service Agreement which is accompanied by a notice that begins, "Enclosed is the new AT&T Residential Service Agreement for residential services provided by AT&T. Please read it carefully."

UCAN found a good CBS5.com story from the San Francisco area about the new AT&T long "legaleze"-type contracts recently sent to AT&T residential service customers. Read More. What does it mean?  It means that after January 1, 2009, AT&T can raise your rates as high as it wants and whenever it chooses to do so.  

UCAN is reading the new AT&T contract to provide you with a breakdown of its contents well before the deadline of October 1, 2008.   Watch for UCAN's breakdown of the "gotcha" areas--coming soon.  UCAN also measured the length of the AT&T fold-out service agreement and it is close to 1 yard long.  There is two-sided separate slip of paper that comes with the AT&T written service agreement.  Read it here.

Power Net Global (PNG) has changed. UCAN is no longer including the option of using Power Net Global (PNG).  In 2002, UCAN did a consumer guide and a newsletter showing PNG as a great option for long distance phone service because not only did UCAN members get installation fees waived, but there were NO monthly fees for customers using this service.  The company now charges minimum monthly usage fees and a .99 cent monthly fee.  To top things off, PNG recently started rounding up each call to the nearest minute instead of the six-second increcements it use to use.  The bottom line is that there are better deals out there for consumers!

On April 24th, the California Public UtilitiesCommission, made a ruling on AT&T Tariff Rule 12 that will have a significant impact on AT&T marketing abilities. The ruling gave validity to Advice Letters 28800 and 28982 written in 2006 by AT&T. Read more.

The Cox May bill includes an insert that gives notice to customers about July 2008 rate increases. The notice says, "new rates for pay-per-use calling features effective 7/1/08.