Chairman Rockefeller Reveals Investigation Into Telephone 'Mystery Charges'

Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has been investigating "mystery charges" on telephone bills for several months.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Chairman Rockefeller said the practice of third-parties placing charges on phone bills has raised "serious concerns." Investigators are looking at AT&T, Verizon and Qwest to determine the companies' role in "cramming," which the committee defines as a "deceptive practice that involves placing unauthorized mystery charges on telephone bills." So far, investigators have determined that many of the companies allowed to charge consumers have faced customer complaints, received failing grades from the Better Business Bureau, and often charge for services that are offered for free or through existing service plans.