Te Adds New Form To Discourage ‘Slams’

GTE is offering customers a way of combating “slamming,” the unauthorized switching of their long-distance carrier.

A new form available by calling the company locks in the current carrier unless a subsequent written notification approves a change.

Bob Wayt, the company’s regional spokesman, said slamming is the No. 1 source of consumer complaints, with GTE receiving 3,000 calls a month nationally.

The Federal Communications Commission tightened rules against slamming in June. Carriers, who frequently combined service offers with sweepstakes or other comeons, must make clear to customers when their signatures - on a separate authorization form - constitute consent to a switchover.

To get the GTE anti-slamming form, residential customers can call 1-800-483-4100. Business customers can call 1-800-483-5100.

GTE serves almost 120,000 customers in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

At US West Communications, spokeswoman Sharon Matthews said customers can change longdistance carriers two ways:

Get a form sent by their would-be carrier, or provide a Social Security number or other information that will enable the company to verify that callers are who they say they are.

There is a $5 fee for working directly through US West, which is intended to discourage snap changes, she added.

GreenMoney going on-line

GreenMoney Journal will go on line September 1.

Co-editor Cliff Feigenbaum said the four-year-old, Spokane-based publication specializing in ethical investment has joined with a Washington, D.C., company that specializes in the creation of home pages and sites on the World Wide Web.

The Web contains much of the information home and business computer owners can access by tapping into the Internet.

Feigenbaum said a Web site will give GreenMoney space to expand its editorial commentary without consuming more paper or running up postal bills.

The Internet address will be: http://www.greenmoney.com.

Content will range from investment information to ideas on eco-travel, organic food and sustainable building.

More topics may be added in the future, Feigenbaum said. “We have a lot of interest in other areas.”

Information and advertising will be upgraded biweekly or monthly, he said.

Feigenbaum said GreenMoney and its partner, RCC Group, will emphasize a format that makes the Web information as possible,

“We want this to be a fun spot,” he said.

Stock picker affirms choices

Beating the market is tough, but for each of the past six years the annual top 10 list of Eugene Peroni Jr. of Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. in Philadelphia has outperformed the Dow Jones industrial average. From December through June 30, it was up 32 percent, compared with 22 percent for the Dow.

In a mid-year review, Peroni reaffirmed his recommendations of seven of the 10.

Take a look: Amphenol Corp., Cyctec Industries Inc., Fila Holdings (at $24 a share or below), Micron Technology Inc., ScheringPlough Corp., Unitrode Corp. and Zenith Electronics Corp.

, DataTimes