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Avoidance of Lawful Charges
Persons using unauthorized credit card numbers or
unauthorized telephone numbers to avoid charges
will be prosecuted. Anyone violating Section 502.7,
California Penal Code, by attempting to avoid lawful
charges for telephone service may be fined up to
$5,000 and imprisoned up to 5 years.
Obscene or Harassing Calls
Obscene or harassing calls are prohibited by federal
and state laws. A person who makes or permits
such calls to be made over a telephone under his
control may be fined or imprisoned or both. Federal
Communications Act, Section 223; California Penal
Code, Section 653m.
Special Service for the Disabled
Equipment available at no charge to those who have
difficulty using the telephone! If a physical impairment
makes it difficult for you or someone you know to use
the telephone call The California Telephone Access
Program (CTAP) at 1-800-806-1191.
CTAP will loan specialized equipment at no charge
to people who have physical conditions that interfere
with hearing, speaking, seeing, dialing or holding a
telephone. California Relay Service allows a hearing or
speech impaired person to communicate with all other
telephone users.
Features of the Relay Service include:
• 24-Hour Service, seven days a week
• Toll-free numbers to reach the Relay Service
Provider of your choice
• No extra charge for using the Relay Service
• If long distance charges apply, they will be billed
at the Hamilton or the long distance provider rates.
To make calls, the hearing or speech impaired caller
uses a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
which resembles a portable typewriter. The service will
relay the caller’s typed messages through specially
trained personnel who will handle the calls. The system
also works in reverse, allowing a person without TDD
to call a person who uses TDD.
California Relay Service (CRS)
Hamilton Relay was awarded the California Relay
Service (CRS) contract and began relaying your calls
on June 2, 2010. This provider change did not require
you to do anything different. You continued to dial the
same relay number(s) you had been using. The only
difference is that your call was routed to Hamilton Relay
beginning June 2, 2010.
If you already have a Customer Profile, all your choices
are applied to calls you make through Hamilton Relay.
Any modality and language preferences from your 711
Choice Form will also apply to calls through this new
CRS provider.
Please note: Starting June 2, 2010, toll charges began
applying to all non-local relay calls. Please contact
the providers’ Customer Service to select your long
distance carrier of choice.
What to Do
Call us to see if you qualify. A customer service
representative will discuss your needs and explain how
you can become medically certified to receive special
services and equipment. This program is funded by a
surcharge on all California telephone customers’ bills.
California Telephone Access Program administers
the Trust Fund which pays for the equipment and the
California Relay Service.
Helpful Information