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FCC Lifeline, EBB, ACP Warning Overview:
- Who: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Office of Inspector General and Wireline Competition Bureau released notices to the public revolving around its Lifeline, Emergency Broadband Benefit and Affordable Connectivity program.
- Why: FCC warns some telecom providers use deceptive marketing practices to coerce Lifeline applicants into signing up for services they don’t want.
- Where: The programs affect consumers nationwide.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a warning to consumers about fraudulent schemes involving government-subsidized affordable internet programs.
The FCC’s internal watchdog warned in a public advisory that the schemes, which revolve around getting consumers to sign up for the internet programs, could be in violation of federal law.
In the advisory, the FCC Office of Inspector General (IOG) warned some companies that are a part of the FCC’s Lifeline, Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) and Affordable Connectivity programs (ACP) are attempting to “strongarm” consumers into adding services they don’t want.
“Such deceptive practices by unscrupulous providers clearly violate program rules and Commission policies, eliminate consumer choice and threaten ACP program integrity by encouraging costly government payments to providers for unwanted broadband service,” the IOG says.
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau also revealed in a public notice that it is creating more “program integrity” measures meant to protect consumer choice in the ACP program who also qualify for the Lifeline benefit.
“Consumer choice and consent are fundamental principles for both the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Lifeline program. No provider should undermine those principles or take advantage of consumers,” the Wireline Competition Bureau says.
Lifeline was established in 1985 as a way to provide telecom discounts for consumers who are of low income.
Lifeline Applicants Deceived Into Enrolling In ACP/EBB Programs
The improper conduct, according to the advisory from the OIG, meanwhile, stems from companies deceiving Lifeline applicants into enrolling in ACP/EBB programs they don’t actually want.
Companies also use the scheme to coerce Lifeline applicants into transferring their services away from their provider of choice by tying enrollment into the federal programs, the advisory says.
The reported deception can occur during the online application process for consumers seeking Lifeline services through a provider who also offers ACP, the OIG says.
According to the advisory, consumers may be forced to choose between either transferring their existing ACP service or enrolling in new ACP services before being able to finish the application for Lifeline.
“At least one provider requires consumers to agree to transfer their existing ACP service even after the consumer indicates they only seek Lifeline service,” the advisory says. “Customers who do not carefully review the online process may find themselves enrolled in ACP or have (it) transferred away from their preferred provider when they seek Lifeline service from one of the providers employing these tactics.”
It was not revealed in the advisory how many providers could be involved in the scheme to allegedly coerce consumers; however, the OIG discussed how — the day before launching the EBB program — it had warned providers not to use deceptive marketing practices against consumers.
The OIG also would go on to codify the requirements for consumer protection written within the rules of the ACP, according to the advisory.
“Such deceptive practices by unscrupulous providers clearly violate program rules and commission policies, eliminate consumer choice and threaten ACP program integrity by encouraging costly government payments to providers for unwanted broadband service,” the OIG says.
Have you been coerced into changing your provider when applying for Lifeline services? Let us know in the comments!
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36 thoughts onFCC Warns Consumers About Telecom Fraud Tactics
Add me please Qlink a scam
I’m with Cintex Wireless an just tried to go to Qlink an having issues again. Then I was told by another company that Qlinks being investigated!
Both company needs investigated an now I don’t know what to do!
Please add me as well. I enquired information into QLinks services- information ONLY. After being asked for my personal information QLink took it upon themselves to somehow #1- terminate my services from Assurance Wireless without my knowledge and #2- enroll me into their program. Since this time, my service is extremely spotty at best with days I have absolutely no service what so ever. Trying to contact QLinks customer service is nonexistent and when you can reach someone, you are transferred to another department and placed on hold for hours at a time then hung up upon. I’ve contacted Assurance wireless several times to have my service reinstated and I’m told I have to cancel my service with QLink and re-enroll into their service. QLink will not allow me to terminate my service with them, saying I’m contracted with them and there’s nothing I can do. I need help and have no idea of where to find it.
I am just finding out about the investigation of qlink and everything that has been stated has been an issue for me as well but it all makes sense now ,what they are doing and how and why my phone shuts down won’t go on, fails to text… . Mind you I paid for one of the pricer phones they offer.
Ive had a free phone do to disability for 7 years all of a sudden my phone went off.Ive been trying for days to go through the acp program sign on and apply procees.It has been a nightmare and i have no idea where to turn i have been hung up on,given different #s to call for help,and they are are the same sight.It stated with a hard sell to get a moxee phone?I said no i like what i have.The latest is, I did send some personnal info to the fcc they said, in london ky. i need my phone on.Have i been scamed or by sending a copy of my 1099?This is the most crazy thing i have ever seen or been a part of.I can only hope And pray that the country has not come to this level of theft.
Sign me up. I was offered a phone, tablet and free sim bundle for $29.99. I was charged $14.95 for a sim card and didn’t receive the phone or tablet. I sent 3 emails to QLink customer service and received no response. It seems impossible to contact a live representative at the 888 customer service number given. On top of that I cannot transfer to a new provider, being told I already have service with QLink so I do not qualify.
Yes! Q Link wireless transferred my ACP from Spectrum to themselves. I have advised them of my intent to sue if not transferred back immediately. Extremely deceitful. Spectrum says I don’t qualify and unable to transfer back. Yet how can another company transfer to themselves, but the company they stole it from can’t transfer back?
This happened to my elderly mother, she called spectrum to enroll in the ACP program to get $35 towards be wifi bill. She specifically asked for the program I directed her to enroll in – she then was transferred to India to a 3rd party “life line” employee who then enrolled her in to the lifeline program for a ‘free” phone ( by the employee doing this – she got commission) and then the $35 goes to the phone and not the wifi ! They send my mom a ridiculous useless phone and when tried to return it , she was directed back to India ( 3rd party) where they said they would not take the phone back ( if they do this the commission the employee made us then revoked) .. she now ended up not being able to enroll in anything and get nothing — i plan On joining this suit for her or getting an attorney for her.
I have had one wireless provider who claimed you cpuld bring your phone and number then send you a sim kit with a whole different number! On top of that they cut my internet and mms networks off after i filed complaints with BBB, FCC, AND FBI. after finding out Qlink headquarters was raided last year in Florida. I then chose another carrier, Cricket wireless, who I changed over to, applied my ACP ONLY, as they had no way to apply both benefits. The day after it was applied to my account I began receiving numeous texts that my pin was chaned one after the other, then more texts that i was De-enrolled from acp! I was like…okay look, got on chat and all the reps think youre stupid and ask you to resubmit the CRICKET reenrollment form. Over and over again. They think we think that the Fcc benefit was de enrolled! Lol im like look, my ap Id is vailed until this time next year. Reapply it AND MY LIFETIME. YET THEY FLAT OUT REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. THEY REMOVED ACP TWICE AND REFUSE TO GRANT MY LIFELINE DISCOUNT. PERIOS. FILED A COMPLAINT ON THEM AS WELL WITH SCREENSHOTS OF THENCHAT CONVERSATION. DONE.
Yes add me I was searching for someone close to me that had a store or office to go to and speak about my phone service because I was having trouble with SafeLink so I chose TMobile because they said they could transfer my benefits but it’s been 5 months of lieing to me and today they tell me they r not involved with program I can’t afford this 70 month bill I have to pay now because TMobile is contract I am homeless and my phone and part time job is the only thing keeping me afloat
Add me. Yes i have had qlink emails over and over trying to get me to come to them.
QLink is a total scam. They say they are just sending a free tablet, but don’t state they are stealing ACP from another company. They tablet they send us an utter joke and the SIM card isn’t used with it. I don’t need their mobile phone service. Complete scam.
The safelink agent in the Lancaster/ Palmdale California area
Have Tablet and have several different colors of safelink box and they also double codes and when its sent video, picture to the local safelink Compliance nothing ever happens