geoff@fernwood.mpk.ca.us (the terminal of Geoff Goodfellow) (03/26/89)
According to a story in Friday's San Francisco Examiner, Business Section, the Public Utilities Commission directed TPC (Pacific Bell) to disconnect 54 privately owned pay phones in its first enforcement action against "price gouging by some operator services". "Privately owned pay phones can charge no more than 10 cents above Pacific Bell and AT&T rates for local calls or calls in California". The 54 privately owned pay phones belonged to 12 owners, and their charges were found to be at least 90% higher than the authorized rates, and sometimes were up to three times as high. All owners had been warned of the overcharging in November. Under the PUC orders, Pacific Bell has sent letters to the owners notifying them that their plug will be pulled in seven days. The article also mentioned the FCC last month imposed some restrictions on five AOS firms accused of egregious gouging that require the companies "to identify themselves to each caller and disclose rates if computers asked."