Do you find mysterious charges on your phone bill? Are you being charged for phone calls you didn’t make? Well, here are some things you should know about mystery phone charges being “crammed” onto your phone bill.

“Cramming” occurs when telephone companies add charges to your phone bill for services you did not order, use, or authorize.  ometimes, monthly recurring charges are crammed onto your phone bill from club memberships such as personal clubs or travel clubs, and telephone services, such as voice mail, paging, and calling cards. Other times companies will charge a one-time fee for entertainment services.

Most cramming schemes result through the use of 800 numbers. Others may occur by entering in contests or sweepstakes. To avoid these charges, also avoid:  contest entry forms, direct mail sweepstakes, “instant” calling cards, dating service calls, international calls, and “free minutes” deals.

If you have a complaint about unexplained charges on your phone bill, you should first go directly to the telephone company whose number is on your phone bill.  If you call, make sure you follow up with a letter.

It is a good idea to also contact your State Attorney General’s office and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). Most Attorney General’s offices have particular departments that take care of consumer protection issues. You can find the phone number and address of your State’s Attorney General’s office in the Government section of your local phone book. You can also go to the National Association of Attorneys General website at http://www.naag.org{{PERIOD}}

Also, the FTC works for the consumer to help avoid deceptive and unfair business practices and provides information to help consumers recognize these and stop them. To file a complaint or for more information, go to http://www.ftc.gov or call toll free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

If you continue to receive mystery phone charges on your monthly telephone bill, you can contact your nearest Naval Legal Service Office, at NAVSTA Everett, (425) 304-4551; NAS Whidbey, (360) 257-2126; NBK-Bremerton, (360) 476-2156; and NBK-Bangor, (360) 396-6003.