LANSING, July 11.  The Michigan Public Service Commission today
took action to further protect Michigan telephone customers by approving
modifications to the Commission's anti-slamming procedures.*   Under the
modified procedures, the Commission clarified that all Michigan 
telecommunications service providers are required to notify, on behalf of a
customer,  both the carrier that is being replaced and the newly selected
telephone service provider when the customer selects a new provider.  The
Commission concluded that the service provider may notify the providers of
the  change through an electronic notification over the Customer Account
Records Exchange (CARE) system, by the Internet, fax, letter, or telephone
call to a designated number.  The notification must take place within 7 days of
the requested change in service, and must include the date upon which the
service was added or cancelled.  Once the replaced service provider has
processed this notice of cancellation, this provider must discontinue billing the
customer for the discontinued service.  The replaced service provider may
continue to collect from this customer all charges due prior to the termination
of the service, however.   Today's order applies to all change orders, whether
they involve a local or long distance provider.

     "Requiring carriers to promptly provide cancellation notices to
customers' former service providers will better ensure that customer are not
billed for services that have been cancelled," said Chairman Laura Chappelle. 
"Although imposing this requirement may slightly increase the providers'
operating expenses, the Commission finds that it is a small price to pay to
avoid double-billing customers."

     The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and
Industry Services.


Case No. U-11900
July 11, 2001
(MPSC modifies anti-slamming procedures)
 
*On September 23, 1998, the MPSC established the initial set of anti-
slamming procedures, and subsequently modified them to enhance protection
for Michigan telecommunications customers.  Anti-slamming procedures are
designed to protect consumers from having their telecommunication services
switched from one provider to another without the customer's permission.