{Spam?} Re: [CLUG] FTTH in Cork

[Trixter aka Bret McDanel]

On 1/9/07, John Ó'Ríordán <thesraid at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I love Smart man, couldn't rate them highly enough. Check out how well
> they've dealt with my phone line on my blog.
>
> http://www.thesraid.com/?p=149


I dont know about here, and your experience suggests that it is infact
different, but in America there is a practice called 'slamming' where a
provider will change your service without your consent.  Its far easier
there, since there are over 1500 long distance companies and many times more
local ones.

Generally when a company is caught slamming they face fines, have to pay for
a 3rd party to confirm that each customer agreed to change their phone
service before the change can take effect, etc.

Here it seems that when it happens, based on your experience, you are on
your own, and there is little you can do.  It also makes me wonder how hard
it would be for someone with a grudge to effectively get your phone and
internet shut off just because ...

I generally dislike additional laws, I think we have enough and in some
areas too many.  New laws are largely written to keep lawyers employed.
However, anti-slamming laws are typically a good idea, especially since
phone and internet are vital to some people, and are going to become more
important over time not less.

Perhaps you could start a movement to try to get something passed here that
would allow for mandatory compensation, fines for the carrier, etc if they
cant prove that the transfer was authorized.  There are more customers of
the phone companies than there are phone companies, and if enough of them
want legislation, the lawmakers usually listen out of fear of not getting
reelected, which is just how it should be, govenment officials should
constantly be afraid of not being reelected whenever they do anything.



-- 
Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com     Bret McDanel
Belfast +44 28 9099 6461        US +1 516 687 5200
http://www.trxtel.com the VoIP provider that pays you!