News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has filed a contempt action against Axces Inc., a Houston-based telephone services reseller, for nine violations of Oklahoma telephone laws and Corporation Commission rules.

The complaint by the Consumer Services Division seeks the maximum fine allowed by law, the greater of $10,000 per occurrence or $500 per day per violation, and revocation of Axces's authority to resell telephone services in Oklahoma.

The complaint alleges that Axces switched the long-distance service of seven customers without authority, called "slamming," and added unauthorized charges, called "cramming," to the telephone bills of two of those customers. Six of the customers live in the Oklahoma City area and one lives in Copan, north of Bartlesville.

The contempt citation is the third action filed against Axces Inc. since the company began reselling telephone services in Oklahoma in 1995. Axces settled the first action by paying a $500 fine. In an order issued last month [September 1999], in the second contempt case, the Corporation Commission ordered Axces Inc. to remove its "drawing boxes" from locations throughout the state within 30 days. The boxes were used to collect entry forms for drawings to win a prize. Each signed entry form was a written authorization to have Axces change that person's long-distance service.

A commission spokesman said the pending citation may be amended to include additional complaints made against Axces before a hearing date on Jan. 20, 2000.

Customers who believe they have been slammed or crammed by Axces Inc. are asked to contact the Corporation Commission's Consumer Services Division. The Oklahoma City area number is 521-2331. The statewide toll-free number is 1-800-522-8154.

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