The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced today that as a result of investigations by its Consumer Assistance Division (CAD), customers, former customers and users of Verizon and MCI will receive almost $12,000 in refunds.

Maine Public Utilities Commission

NEWS RELEASE

Maine Public Utilities Commission
242 State Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0018
Website: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/, Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
CONTACT: Derek Davidson, 207.287.1596, derek.d.davidson@maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2005

Verizon and MCI to Refund Approximately
$12,000 to Maine Consumers

AUGUSTA, MAINE – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced today that as a result of investigations by its Consumer Assistance Division (CAD), customers, former customers and others will receive almost $12,000 in refunds this month from Verizon and MCI.

Verizon refunds: As a result of customer complaints and input from the NAACP, the CAD learned that Verizon was overcharging customers for some collect calls placed from the State Prison in Warren. For calls made on Saturdays from May through September of this year, Verizon had incorrectly charged the weekday rate of $0.35 per minute, when the correct weekend rate was $0.09 per minute. Because of the CAD’s investigation, a total refund of $3,660 will automatically be provided to 187 customers. Most of the individuals receiving refunds are family members and acquaintances of inmates who received collect calls from the inmates. Due to restrictions associated with telephone calls made from the prison, inmate calls either must be made collect or must be placed from a pre-paid account. “For relatives of inmates, these calls are often the only means of maintaining contact,” said Stephen Diamond, PUC Commissioner. “Thus, the amount charged for these calls can have a significant impact,” he added. Individuals or inmates who were overcharged and who have prepaid accounts with the prison or who are Verizon customers will receive a credit to their account. Individuals who do not have a prepaid account and who are not customers of Verizon will receive a refund. The credits and refund will be made in early December.

MCI refunds: The CAD learned through a customer complaint that MCI was imposing a 35% fee on past due balances it forwarded to a collection agency. Although the 35% fee was imposed on both intrastate and interstate charges, it was not approved by the PUC for the former, and thus, could not be assessed on the intrastate charges. MCI stopped imposing the fee on Maine customers in August, and began issuing refunds in November. The refunds are being issued as checks rather than as bill credits, because most of the consumers who are owed money are no longer customers of MCI. MCI will refund a total of over $8,100 to 964 consumers in Maine.

######

For more information:

All PUC News Releases may be found on our website at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/staying_informed/news/press_release.shtml

To arrange an interview with Chairman Adams or Commissioners Diamond or Reishus, please contact Phillip Lindley at 207.287.1598 or by e-mail at phil.lindley@maine.gov. The Commission’s website may be accessed through the Maine School and Library Network at all public libraries in Maine.