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FRAUD
For your protection, new equipment and
procedures enable the Telephone Company to detect
and investigate fraudulent calls. State law provides
that no person shall defraud or attempt to defraud the
Telephone Company of its lawful charges. Violators,
upon conviction, are subject to imprisonment for up to
one year, a fine of up to $1000, or both.
Any person who charges services to your number
or calling card without your permission are subject to
prosecution for violating both federal and state laws.
OBSCENE & HARASSING CALLERS
It is a criminal offense for anyone to make an
obscene, harassing or threatening phone call. Anyone
convicted of such an offense is subject to a fine of up
to $500 or six months in prison or both. If you receive
such a call:
• Hang up immediately. Nothing is gained by
staying on the line after the first obscene word
or if silence lasts past your second “hello.”
• Give no personal information such as your name
or address.
• Advise your children to give no information to
strangers. If you’re not at home, they should say
“Mother/Father can’t come to the phone right
now.”
• If the calls persist, contact the State’s Attorney
and/or MTCO to file a complaint.
• You may want to consider initiating a customer
originated trace which will be needed if legal
action is to be taken. Please contact our office
for further information (see p. 17) about initiating
this trace.
900 AND 976 CHARGES
Though 900 and 976 numbers do offer a wide
variety of information, there is a charge for every call
placed. In addition, some 800 numbers can lead to
billable charges. Residence and business customers
can block all 900 and 976 numbers through an optional
service. For further information, please contact our
business office.
UNLAWFUL WIRETAPPING
It is a criminal offense to intercept a phone
conversation unless you get prior permission from one
of the people participating in the call. Law enforcement
officers with court orders can wiretap without prior
consent.
RECORDING OF CONVERSATIONS
Recording a conversation is not legally permitted
unless:
• All parties consent verbally or in writing, or
• A distinctive tone is heard every 15 seconds
during the recording, or
• The party which is intending to record the
conversation notifies the other party at the
beginning of the conversation that the call is
being recorded.
Law enforcement officers with court orders and
broadcast stations who are recording for broadcast
purpose are exempted from these restrictions.
CUSTOMER PROVIDED EQUIPMENT
Customers may connect customer-owned
equipment to the Telephone Company’s facilities under
certain conditions specified by the Federal Commerce
Commission. Generally, these conditions require that
the connection be made through FCC approved jacks
or other connecting arrangements.
The Telephone Company does not repair
customer-provided equipment. The customer will be
billed a service charge for each repair visit made by the
Company, if it is determined that the service difficulty
resulted from the use of customer-provided equipment.
BURIED CABLE LOCATIONS
Before you (or your contractors) do any digging,
trenching or landscaping on or near your property,
please call JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information
for Excavators) for cable locations in the area. You are
legally responsible to call the JULIE toll free number
800-892-0123 to contact utility companies in the area.
This call should be placed at least 48 hours before
the digging begins, but even short notice is better
than neglecting to call at all. Customers will be held
responsible for the repair or replacement of damaged
telephone cable and other MTCO property.
FAIR RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS
We believe that our customers deserve to be
treated with respect, courtesy & honesty. If you have a
complaint or grievance about our telephone services,
billing or other policies and procedures, we want to
hear from you so that the matter can be settled fairly.
Our service representatives have the responsibility to
answer your questions in a professional manner. If
you’re not satisfied with the Company’s position, you
may contact the Illinois Commerce Commission in
Chicago at 800-524-0795.
Rights & Responsibilities