Sen Klobuchar To FCC: Crack Down On 'Cramming'

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called on the Federal Communications Commission to do more to crack down on unauthorized charges added to consumers' phone bills by a third party.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Sen Klobuchar voiced concern about the practice known as "cramming." She said complaints about unauthorized charges have been on the rise, particularly among smart phone users who can download applications to their phones.

"Victims of cramming may have inadvertently signed up to receive a message - such as a horoscope or a joke - without realizing they would be billed each month. Or a victim may simply be an unlucky target of a scam," Sen Klobuchar said. "These charges, which may go unnoticed for months, appear to be legitimate and are often hidden in a bill."

She added that such charges often are difficult to remove. Sen Klobuchar urged the FCC to consider adopting rules that would require phone companies to clearly identify third-party charges on their customers' bills, including a clear description of the services being charged. In addition, she called on the FCC to establish clear procedures companies must follow to ensure that a consumer has agreed to purchase a service that will be charged to their phone bill.