From Huffington Post –

The Senate Commerce Committee is investigating several little-known companies for charging consumers mystery fees through their phone bills in a practice known as cramming.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller, D-W. Va., sent letters to three companies Friday asking them to explain unauthorized charges that they or affiliates have placed on landline phone bills. Those charges, Rockefeller said, were often for services that are available for free online, such as e-mail, or are already bundled with regular phone service, such as voice mail.

Just when I think I have all the different scams figured out, there is another one. I can’t even figure out (the committee is asking) how they would get my data from my cell phone company? Are they selling me out? Do they get a cut? I hope not.

If you read the article these companies appear to independent entities set up for the purpose of “cramming,” so I can’t complain about a company failure of business ethics. They didn’t have any to begin with. This is unconscionable behavior, the kind the law should be upset about. Instead we have a Senate Committee sending them a letter.

I hope something comes of it.

James Pilant