Press Release

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has fined a local telephone provider $400,550 for slamming 27 customers in 1998 and 1999 and for failing to cooperate with the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services to resolve the complaints.

Slamming refers to the illegal process of switching a telecommunications customer from one provider to another without the customer’s permission.

The PUC levied the fine against Ntegrity Telecontent Services, Inc., a Nevada corporation which was reselling local and long-distance services out of Baltimore. In this case, customers complained that their service had been illegally switched from Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) to Ntegrity. The PUC’s Office of Trial Staff filed the original 100-count formal complaint against the company after 125 customers filed complaints.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.