Annoyance Calls
A person violates Nebraska law if they use a telephone with the intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend any person. The use of indecent, lewd or obscene language or the making of a threat or lewd suggestion is a violation of the law. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500 or three months imprisonment, or both.
If you receive obscene, harassing or threatening calls:
- Hang up at the first obscene word, or if the caller doesn’t say anything.
- Give no information (i.e. your name and address) until the caller is identified.
- Advise your children not to give information to strangers. If you are not home have them say “Mother/Father can’t come to the phone now.”
- If calls persist, call the police, sheriff or Customer Service Center.
Customer Originated Trace is available for only $2.50 each month.
Theft of Service
An individual commits theft of service if they use another person’s telephone number or telephone calling card to charge calls without permission, or by any other means of deception, fraud or falsification to avoid payment of telephone services. The penalty is a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of $1000, or both.
"900" numbers
Some companies offer a variety of informational services using phone numbers beginning with “900.” There is a charge for calls to these numbers. The content and pricing for these calls are established by the company providing the service.
If you have a complaint or dispute about “900” billing, you have 60 days to dispute the charges. Services that contain illegal or sexually explicit material are not allowed. Your telephone service cannot be disconnected for disputing pay-per-call services, but future access to “900” numbers can be involuntarily blocked for failure to pay legitimate charges.
For more information or to arrange for “900” blocking call our Customer Service Center.
Slamming
Slamming is any practice that changes a consumer’s long distance provider without the customer’s knowledge or consent. The FCC’s policies and rules prohibit slamming and the FCC enforces these rules through investigations of individual complaints and patterns of slamming practices.
What to do if you are slammed:
- Call the American Broadband Customer Service Center to have your long distance service switched back.
- Call the company that slammed you and let them know that you will only pay the charges your preferred carrier would have imposed.
- Call the long distance company you were switched from and report that you were switched without your permission. Ask to be reconnected. You should not be charged for this reconnection.
- If the company that slammed you does not resolve your complaint, you may file a complaint with the Nebraska Public Service Commission (1-800-526-0017) or the FCC (1-888-225-5322).
- You may “freeze” your long distance company so that changes cannot be made without your permission. This is an optional service at no charge for your protection. Contact American Broadband Customer Service Center for more information.
Cramming
Cramming is the submission or inclusion of unauthorized, misleading or deceptive charges for products or services that appear on your local telephone bill. Best Practice Guidelines have been developed and are being implemented to assist local phone companies in dealing with this problem.
What to do if you are crammed:
- Call the American Broadband Customer Service Center to verify the charges.
- Call the company that crammed you and let them know that you did not order the services you were charged for and that you want a refund.
- If you are unable to resolve your complaint with the company that switched your service, you may file a complaint with the Nebraska Public Service Commission (1-800-526-0017) or the FCC (1-888-225-5322). For charges regarding non-telephone services (for example, “content” services like psychic hotlines) contact the Federal Trade Commission (202-326-3128).
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