Now that there are many competing companies that offer telephone service, your choices have increased dramatically. Unfortunately, so have the chances of being "slammed."

• Know what slamming is. Slamming occurs when your telephone service is switched from your current company to another one without your permission. Long-distance service is the most common target of slamming, but it can also happen with local or local-toll service.
• Read the fine print. Contest entry forms, coupons, or other promotional materials might include an agreement to switch your phone service. Federal law requires that written agreements to change phone service must be separate documents, not part of a prize package or other materials. If the company offers a check to get you to switch, the check must state clearly on the front and on the back, in the signature area, that you are agreeing to change your service.
• You can also agree to switch your service over the telephone or electronically. The company must verify that you agreed. You may be instructed to call a toll-free number that is used exclusively for that purpose, or you may be connected to an independent verification company that will confirm your decision to switch.
• Beware of imposters. Someone posing as a representative from your current telephone company may try to trick you by asking if you are satisfied with your service or if you’re interested in a new calling plan or billing arrangement. A “yes” answer could be tape-recorded and used as proof that you agreed to switch. Ask for the person’s name and number. Then contact your phone company to find out if the call was legitimate.
• Don’t return calls to numbers on your pager or voice mail that you don’t recognize. A slammer may use Automatic Number Identification to see the number you’re dialing from and then process an unauthorized switch of service.
• Check your phone bill carefully. If you notice a new company name, call the number that’s listed on that portion of the bill and ask for an explanation. If you’ve been slammed, inform the company that you didn’t agree to use its service. Contact the company you originally had to switch back and be reinstated in your old calling plan.
• Know your rights. Under federal law, you can switch back for free, and you don’t have to pay for the first 30 days of service from the slammer. If you used the slammer’s service beyond 30 days, you will pay your original company for that service from day 31 until the date you switch back. You will be charged your original company’s rates, not the slammer’s. If you have already paid the slammer, your original company can try to help you get some of your money back. Contact your original company as soon as you realize that you’ve been slammed. For more information about your rights, contact the Federal Communications Commission, 888-225-5322, or go to www.fcc.gov. Your state public utility department can tell you any rights you may have under state law.
• Put a “freeze” on your telephone service. Ask your local phone company, which does the switching on behalf of the other companies, to notify you before your service can be changed.