House Takes Step To Deter ‘Slamming’

Lawmakers took another step Tuesday toward detering phone companies from “slamming” their customers - the practice of switching their long-distance service to another company without permission.

The House Commerce Committee’s panel on telecommunications is considering legislation that would require phone companies to get written permission from consumers before changing their service. Phone companies also would have to let consumers know what the change would entail and how they could bring complaints about it to the Federal Communications Commission.

The bill would allow the FCC to impose fines of at least $40,000 the first time a company breaks the law and at least $150,000 for every subsequent offense.

The Senate passed similar legislation in May.

The FCC received more than 20,000 customer complaints last year about slamming.