What is Cramming?

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Ever wonder about those obscure fees, that seem to pop out of nowhere, that you see on your telephone bill?

Those fees, referred to as cramming, are illegal, and the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is doing something about it.

PC World defined cramming as "the practice of sneaking charges onto customers' phone bills." Most of these hidden fees are found on land lines.

Cramming often goes unnoticed because the fee that is charged is usually in small increments – just a few dollars here and there. And the fees usually look legitimate with the titles that they are given on the bill.

Joel Gurin, chief of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, wrote on the FCC blog , "Cramming happens when a company puts a charge on your phone bill for a service that you never ordered and almost certainly don't need. These fake charges can be for services that sound like they're part of your phone service, like long distance service, or they can be for things as diverse as horoscopes, psychic hotlines, or diet plans."

Why is cramming such a lucrative practice for the phone companies?

U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee believes that cramming costs consumers $2 billion a year, IT World reported.

Even thought the FCC is now requiring phone companies to separately list third party charges on the bill to help cut down on cramming, there are still things that can be done on your own to avoid paying these fraudulent charges, Smart Money reported.

PC World provided some of the recommendations the FCC gives to help stop cramming:

• Go over your bill every month.
• Ask yourself key questions: Do I recognize this company? Did I make that call?
• Ask your phone provider for more information on any charge you don't recognize.
• If the phone company does not respond to your complaint, file a formal complaint with a state public service commission, the Federal Trade Commission or the FCC.