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900 Calls: How to handle and avoid pay-per-call charges
 
Calling a "900" information number can gain you access to a wide range of news, conversation and entertainment, some of it quite useful. But such calls will cost you. These pay-per-call charges can be very expensive and can end up on your long-distance or local telephone bill.

The UTC does not regulate pay-per-call information providers but it does regulate the long-distance company and local phone company that might be involved in the billing for the service. The information provided below is designed to acquaint you with how these services are billed, what you can do to avoid them and what you should do if you have been unfairly charged for such services.

How pay-per-call services work
Pay-per-call services entice people to call their phone numbers with the promise of information or conversation. These services can be wide ranging and often quite helpful. They can also involve information or conversations inappropriate for minors.
When you dial a 900 number, the pay-per-call service provider bills you an amount that is considerably higher than what you would normally pay for a long-distance call. Often the charge is based on the length of call but some providers bill on a per call basis. You will be charged either through your long-distance bill or your local phone bill. Some pay-per-call services accept credit cards.

The cost of the calls must be disclosed
Federal law requires that providers disclose the costs of their services in advertising and to begin calls costing more than $2 with an announcement of the cost of the call.
The announcement must identify the company providing the service, quote the cost of the call, and state that callers under 18 must obtain parental permission. After the announcement, callers must be given three seconds to hang up without being charged.

How to prevent 900 calls from being made from your phone
Upon request, your local telephone company will block your phone line's ability to complete 900 calls. This service is free the first time you request it for your residential telephone line. You can have your line unblocked later, but you may be charged for any subsequent blocking requests. If you wish to block 900 calls from your phone line, contact your local telephone company .

Do not pay a disputed charge just because it is on your phone bill.
Any charges associated with a 900 number must be listed separately from the local and long-distance charges. Your bill should include information on how to challenge any questionable charges.

Federal and state laws prohibit disconnection of your local phone service for failure to pay for an information service. When disputing a 900 charge on your phone bill, you do not have to pay that portion of the bill. If you send a reduced amount to your phone company, be sure to indicate on the bill what charges are in dispute and that your payment is for your local and long-distance charges only.
How to remove disputed charges from your local phone bill.
Ask your local phone company to send the charges back to the pay-per-call service provider. This process is also known as “recoursing” the charges. Recoursed charges will no longer appear on your local telephone bill, however, the pay-per-call service provider might still pursue collection of the charges. Also, it may take several billing periods for the charges to be removed from your phone bill.

If you experience any difficulties in getting a disputed charge removed from your phone bill, call the UTC consumer affairs line at 1-800-562-6150.

How to dispute a pay-per-call charge.
As stated above, the UTC does not regulate pay-per-call services. The Federal Trade Commission, which has adopted rules governing pay-per-call services, suggests the following if you find an error on your bill:

1. Follow the instructions on your statement. The bill instructions should tell you who to call or write to dispute the charge. It might be your local or long-distance telephone company, but it could be the 900 number company or an independent firm that provides billing services for that company.
2. Notify the company listed on your bill within 60 days from the date the first statement containing the error was sent. The company must acknowledge your notice in writing within 40 days unless it has resolved the dispute by that time. Within two billing cycles, but no longer than 90 days, the company must either inform you that itt will correct the error or provide you with an explanation for not correcting the error.

If you would like more information or have questions regarding this process, you may call the FTC directly toll free at 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).

Children and pay-per-call services.
Federal law prohibits companies from advertising or directing pay-per-call services to those under 12, unless the services are bona fide educational services dedicated to areas of school study. However, the telephone customers are responsible for any calls directly dialed from their phones. This includes children, baby-sitters, guests, etc. If you believe your child was illegally exposed to obscene material via telephone, you should provide the Federal Communications Commission with details by writing or calling:

Federal Communications Commission
Common Carrier Bureau
Complaints and Investigation Branch
Room 6206, M/S 1600A2
2025 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20554
(202) 632-7553 (Toll-free 1-888-225-5322)

Watch out for pay-per-call scams
There are telephone scams that operate outside the 900 phone number system. There international pay-per-call services and systems that bill through your credit card. And though prohibited by federal law, some pay-per-call providers have used toll-free numbers (such as 800 numbers) to connect a caller to a pay-per-call service.

Be careful when calling unusual area codes (they may go to international locations) and when using your credit card over the telephone.