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- Typed out by Executioner/PHOBIA
-
- BC-Tel - Misuses of Telephone Service
-
- Fraudulent Long Distance Phone Calls
-
- Every year, people fall into the trap of trying to make long distance phone
- calls without paying for them.
-
- This can result in:
- - Substantial costs which are eventually passed on to our entire customer
- base.
- - Criminal prosecution of the calling party. (Section 326 if the Criminal
- Code)
- - Unexpected high phone bills when calls are rebilled to the originating
- telephone. (Section 9, "Terms of Service," BC TEL directory white pages.)
-
- Methods of Fraud Calling
- - Unauthorized third number billing - making a call from one phone and telling
- the operator or automated system to bill the call to another telephone
- without permission.
- - Unauthorized use of a long ditance Calling Card - using someone else's
- Calling Card number without permission.
- - Use of technical devices to trck the telephone system.
-
- BC-TEL's security department vigorously investigates fraudulent long distance
- calls. It has several advantages on its side:
- The law - placing fraudulent calls is illegal
- Technology - certain facts are recorded about every long distance call:
- - where the call originated
- - where the call terminated
- - who the call was billed to
-
- Most illegally placed calls end up on other people's telephone bills. When
- they refuse to pay up, the calls are investigated by BC TEL. When we
- determine who made the calls or where they originated, we have several
- options.
- - We can write the calls off. This is rarely done.
- - The calling party can pay for them.
- - We can criminally prosecute the caller. This usually results in a fine
- or probation and an order to repay.
- - We can bill the calls back to the originating number. (Section 9 ,"Terms
- of Service," BC TEL directory white pages.)
-
- When apprehended, most people say they would not have tried to make calls
- like this if they knew iot was so easy to get caught. Every year, this crime
- results in family problems, criminal records and financial burdens for many
- people.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Don't get caught in this trap! If a long distance call is worth making, it's
- worth paying for.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nuisance Phone Calls
-
- BC TEL's security department also investigates a large number of nuisance
- telephone calls each year. A nuisance call occurs when someone places
- unwanted calls to another person with intent to harass or alarm that person.
-
- These calls include:
- - calling and not speaking
- - threats of physical harm or death
- - bomb threats
- - false alarms to fire, police, or other emergency agencies
-
- When a customer reports a nuisance call to BC TEL, he or she is referred to
- the local police department. BC TEL and the police then work in conjunction
- to determine who the offending party is.
-
- The Police have the option of charging the calling party under Section 372
- of the Criminal Code.
-
- This can result in:
- - a criminal record
- - loss of phone service
- - problems with family and friends.
-
- The message about nuisance calls is simple: don't use the phone as a weapon
- to resolve problems with other people.
-
- Remember:
- - BC TEL has the ability to trace calls made on its network.
- - except in unusual casesm BC TEL will insist on prosecution
- - before you make a nuisance call or try to obtain "free" long distance
- service ask yourself, "Is it worth the hassle?"
-
- If you have any other questions, please call collect:
-
- hmmmm... lost the card that was attached... oh well...
-
-
- References
-
- Section 9, "Terms of Service"
- Customer Liability For Calls
- 9.1 Customers are responsible for paying all calls originating from, and
- charged calls accepted at their telephones, regardless of who made or
- accepted them.
- Dispute Procedure
- 10.1 Customers may dispute charges for all calls which they do not believe
- originated from or were accepted at the telephones. The dispute
- procedure set out in the introductory pages of the telephone directory
- should be followed and customers must pay the undisputed porton of the
- bill.
-
- Section 326 of Criminal Code
- Section 372 of Criminal Code
-
- I guess some of that was illegally reproduced. Sue me. You don't know who
- I am though, so... <g>
-
- Phuck you BC-Hell!
-
- - Executioner wuz here -
-
- Downloaded from The Abyss - 604.XXX.XXXX - Phobia HQ
-