Lawmakers Consider Consumer Protections on Cell Phone Billing

“What I went through is clearly bad business practice and should be illegal,” said Chisholm, “First, without notice, my 2 year cell phone contract was extended without permission; I was continuously charged erroneous fees which after agreeing it was an error could not stop it, and resulted in my account being turned over to a collection agency – for money I did not owe.”

“I've never met anyone who hasn't had a problem with their cell phone,” stated Senator Karen Spilka, Senate sponsor of the Cell Phone Users’ Bill of Rights.  “From bad customer service to billing issues, consumers continue to complain about their wireless service.”

“This bill would create a very basic consumer bill of rights,” Spilka continued.  “Nothing in it in any way hampers competition.  In fact, the practices the cell phone companies use currently are actually anti-competitive.  By allowing consumers to have shorter contracts and extended trial periods, the Cell Phone Users’ Bill of Rights gives them more power to force companies to respond to their complaints.  Otherwise, consumers can just switch.”