[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE CALLING CARD CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues' 
strong support of a bill that I am introducing, which would protect 
calling card consumers from being scammed and stop prepaid calling card 
deception. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my 
friend and colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman 
Mike Ferguson, who joins me as an original cosponsor of this bill.
  As you may already be aware, calling cards allow one to purchase 
telephone talk time in advance and since the financial transaction 
occurs before card use, many companies have successfully hidden 
additional fees and terms that are then hard to appeal. Some consumers 
find that the calling card rates are higher than advertised or that 
they must pay surcharges or extra undisclosed taxes. In other cases, 
the calling card company automatically deducts minutes even if the 
consumer is unable to connect with the party they attempted to call. 
Even worse, many consumers find they are being scammed out of minutes 
and are being cut off in the middle of phone conversations.
  To help combat some of the aforementioned issues that plague our 
constituents, Congressman Ferguson and I will be introducing the 
``Calling Card Consumer Protection Act'' which requires disclosures 
related to terms and conditions on all advertising, cards or packaging. 
It would also require that the calling card service providers disclose 
a detailed description of any additional fees and the company's name 
and contact information for consumers should a problem arise. Again, I 
urge my colleagues support and cosponsorship of this important consumer 
protection bill.

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