WASHINGTON-Verizon Communications last week agreed to pay $250,000 to the U.S. Treasury when it could not verify that approximately 34,000 customers had not been switched to Verizon Long Distance without their consent, a process known as slamming.
As part of the consent decree, Verizon also agreed to contact each customer to verify that they wanted Verizon as their long-distance carrier. Verizon is also working with its third-party provider, The Sutherland Group, to strengthen third-party verification procedures.
Verizon, then known as Bell Atlantic Corp., was the first Baby Bell to receive approval from the Federal Communications Commission to offer long-distance service. Late last year, the FCC said Verizon had met the 14-point checklist to offer long-distance service in New York. Verizon also has applied to offer long-distance service in Massachusetts. The FCC is expected to make a decision on the Massachusetts’ application in December.
