Complaints (Consumer-SOS)

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Getting The Best Rates & Keeping Bills Low

Comparing Long Distance Phone Rates (Rates-All 50 States & DC)
The lowest in state, interstate and international phone rates. Also has lowest calling card and toll free rates.

Lowering Your Long Distance Bill (Texas)

The Lowest 10-10 Number Rates 

Low Phone Rates (Under 5 cents Per Minute)

The Lowest Calling Card Rates

The Lowest International Rates

The Best Phone Rates (Lists The Cheapest Ones)
Also has other consumer tips and advice.

Cheapest Long Distance Rate Calculator
For a FAST and very EASY detailed rate analysis for all of our long distance carriers - side by side - in your area.


Federal Law & Brochures (Not State Specific)

What To Look For When Choosing Long Distance Rates (FTC)

How To Lower Your Long-Distance Bill (FCC)

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Payment Assistance Programs

What You Need to Know About Phone Payment Assistance Programs (Texas)

Can't Pay Your Rent, Mortgage or Utilities? (Consumer-SOS)
Step by step on what to do and where to go for assistance.

Rent, Utilities and Mortgage Assistance In Texas  (Google)
For help in your county or city, add your county or city's name in the Google search box.

United Way Help Line  (For All 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies throughout your state and city. Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic imaginable.  Just type in the words "Utilities and Assistance".

The Salvation Army Nearest You   (All 50 States & DC)
The Salvation Army often helps with rent, utilities, transportation, food, clothing and mortgage assistance.

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Telemarketers & Phone Scams

The National Do Not Call Registry
Most telemarketers cannot call your telephone number if it is in the National Do Not Call Registry. You can register your home and mobile phone numbers for free. Your registration will be effective for five years.

Spotting and Dealing With Telemarketing Fraud (Texas)

What You Need to Know About Telephone Solicitation (Texas)
Short summary of what telemarketers must not do and where to get help.

The Texas "Do Not Call" List (Texas)
Getting removed from Telemarketers' call lists.

Complaints (Consumer-SOS)

Federal Law & Brochures (Not State Specific)

Anti Telemarketing Laws, Links & Brochures (Excellent!)

The Telemarketing Sales Rule (FTC Brochure)
Also click Here

The Mail & Telephone Order Rule (Rules Corps Must Follow) 

Unsolicited Marketing Calls & Faxes (FTC)

Telemarketing Fraud: What You Need To Know
Scroll down to their brochures on telephone Services.

Telemarketing Fraud (Links)

Top 10 Telemarketing Frauds

For More Fraud, see Phone Scams.

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Phone Scams

International Telephone Number Scams (FTC)

Toll-Free Telephone Number Scams (FTC)

Scams & Cons (Consumer-SOS)

Complaints (Consumer-SOS)

To Verify A Legitimate Business Offer, Charity or Sales Pitch See: Charities and  Business Matters

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Complaints

Your Rights As A Phone or Utility Customer (Texas)
Has some on refusal of service and disconnections.

Filing A Complaint Regarding Your Utility Service (Texas)
Phones and other utilities.

How To File An Informal Complaint-Contacting Your Provider First (Texas)

Texas Public Utilities Commission Site Index 

State Utility Commissions (All 50 States)
Report Phone & Utility Complaints.

State Utility Commissions (All 50 States)
Includes Links Missing Above. 

Consumer Advice On Phone-Related Matters
Where to complain, dealing with slamming, calling cards, long distance providers and more.

Find The AARP In Your State
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

Call For Action (Has Chapters In 18 States)  
Volunteers aligned with the media are trained to assist consumers through mediation and education in order to resolve problems with businesses, government agencies and other organizations. Services are free, confidential and available to individuals and small businesses. 

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select your state, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).


Federal Law & Brochures (Not State Specific)

FCC Brochures On All Sorts Of Phone Related Issues
Everything From filing complaints to choosing caller ID.

How To Right A Wrong (FTC)

National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.

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Misc.

Find The Owner Of A Lost Cell Phone/What to Do If Yours Is Missing (Consumer-SOS)

Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Your Service

Find Out What Time It Is In Any Country Or City (World-Wide)

Recording Telephone Conversations (FCC)

Telephone FAQs (Texas)

• Area Codes
• Caller ID
• Charges on your Telephone Bill
• IntraLATA Toll Calls
• Keep Your Existing Number
• Lowering Your Long Distance Bill
• Money-Saving Phone Tips
• My Rights As a Telecommunications Customer
• Pay Phones
• Paying Your Phone Bill
• Prepaid Local Telephone Service
• Prepaid Long Distance Cards
• Questions to Ask About Your Long Distance Rates
• Telemarketing
• Telephone Cramming
• Telephone Slamming
• Texas "No Call" Lists
• Telephone Payment Assistance Programs
• Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF)

Other Misc.

The Laws On Taping Phone Conversations (All 50 States & DC)

Pay Phones-You Must Be Told In Advance How Much Call Costs (FCC)

Enter A Pay Phone # and Find Out Where It's Located
Lists pay phone numbers throughout the US and also has reverse lookup where you can punch in the # and find where the pay phone is located. Comes in handy if someone is using a pay phone to stalk or threaten you.  Use the reverse lookup to find where he's calling from and notify the police.

Find The Numbers On Pay Phones Around The Country

Consumer Information About Telephone Related Issues (Other FCC Brochures)  
They've got anything you can think of!!!

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