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Related Topics

People Search
(To find people's phone numbers and addresses.)

Privacy & ID Theft
(To get rid of unwanted calls.)

Phone Matters
Area Codes
Billing Problems & Unauthorized Charges
Getting The Best Rates/ Keeping Bills Low 
Payment Assistance Programs
Telemarketers & Scams 
Complaints
Misc. (Times Zones, Lost or Missing Cell Phones, Keeping Your Phone #, Pay phones, Taping Conversations, & Other FCC Brochures)

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Gas, Water & Other Utilities
Tips, Problems & Complaints
Payment Assistance Programs

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Area Codes 

Maps Of Area Codes Throughout The US (Frequently updated)

Area Codes In Numerical Order With Time Zones!
Find out the state and time zone for each US area code.
Spot long distance scams such as US area code look a likes which really connect you abroad.

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

Cities With Their Area Codes (Scroll Down Page)

Area Code Search Engine
Type in the 3 digit number and find the city and state it belongs to. Their website is slow so be patient.

BEWARE OF US AREA CODE LOOK LOOK A LIKES
Numbers such as the 809 area code come from the Caribbean. These numbers are not subject to the laws and regulations that govern calls originating in the United States. Area codes (or look-alikes) that may contain pay-per-call numbers are: 264, 268, 242, 246, 441, 284, 245, 767, 473, 876, 664, 869, 758, 784, 868, 809 or the 011 international access code. 

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Billing Problems & Unauthorized Charges
Understanding Your Phone Bill
Long Distance, Tolls & Other Charges 
Slamming & Cramming
 

 Getting The Best Rates & Keeping Bills Low

Free Cell Phone Plus Free Minutes Through Safelink Wireless 800-997-3768
For those 135% below the poverty line or those who are already on Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance, etc, it is now possible to get a free cell phone and free cell phone service, even if you cannot afford to pay the monthly charges. States covered include Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, In addition, SafeLink Wireless cell phone service will soon be offered in Alabama, Connecticut, D. of Columbia, Delaware, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Keep checking the SafeLink website to see if Ohio qualifies.

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.

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

Telephone Assistance Programs In Ohio

Energy Assistance Programs In Ohio

Free Cell Phone Plus Free Minutes Through Safelink Wireless 800-997-3768
For those 135% below the poverty line or those who are already on Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance, etc, it is now possible to get a free cell phone and free cell phone service, even if you cannot afford to pay the monthly charges. States covered include Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, In addition, SafeLink Wireless cell phone service will soon be offered in Alabama, Connecticut, D. of Columbia, Delaware, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Keep checking the SafeLink website to see if Ohio qualifies.

Rent, Utilities and Mortgage Assistance In Ohio  (Google)
For local help in your county or city, add the name of such to the Google search box.

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.

Telephone Solicitation Sales Act (Ohio)

• Requires certain telemarketing businesses operating inside and outside Ohio to register with the
     Ohio Attorney General’s Office.  
• Says that no contract made through a telemarketing call is valid until the telemarketer receives a
     signed, written confirmation from the consumer.
• Requires telemarketers to state their real name, their company’s name and their purpose for
    calling within the first 60 seconds of a call.
• Establishes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the law.

Anti-Pyramid Sales Act (Ohio)
Makes it is illegal to participate in pyramid sales schemes.
Pyramid sales operate like giant chain letters.  Participants pay to join, then recruit others in order to profit from the new recruits' fees. Although there may be some profit for the handful of people who join at the beginning, the remaining investors inevitably lose all their money.

See 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

Ohio Public Utilities Commission

FAQS on GAS, Phone, Electric, Disputing Bills and More (Ohio)

Search For Unfair, Deceptive or Unconscionable Acts Done by Ohio Businesses, Stores, Landlords, Etc (Attorney General)
Ignore all fields but their subject box, and choose a subject your issue relates to. Then click "SUBMIT" to Search records for similar violations done by that business or by any other business. And if the violation is something that has been previously addressed in an administrative rule or by any Ohio court, you may be able to recover three times the amount of actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. Topics include everything from Aeronautics to False Advertising to Food to Travel! Too Many Hits? Use your back button and narrow your results by also selecting a topic from the CATEGORY box.

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 Ohio
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 Ohio, 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. (Phones)

What You Should Know about Transferring Your Telephone Number (Ohio)

FAQS on GAS, Phone, Electric, Disputing Bills and More (Ohio)

Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Your Service

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

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

Recording Telephone Conversations (FCC)

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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