Check your phone bills closely in the future. NEKLS Libraries should also check their phone bills for 2008 .
Eddie Holt, of eRate Solutions, has been finding phone charges from ILD Teleservices for $49.95/month on several library phone bills. These charges are most likely a scam known in the telecommunications industry as “cramming”. ILD Teleservices is a billing clearinghouse for companies that bill for services by placing charges on local phone bills. The service has had a lot of abuse with phony and inflated charges.
More information on this illegal and deceptive practice can be found on the Consumer Affairs site.
If these charges are on your local phone bills, take the following steps:
1) Call the toll-free number next to the charge. If it is an unauthorized charge, ask that the ILD representative investigate further and report back in 30 days.
2) Start an internal “Memo for File” — write down date and time called, who you talked with, and what was discussed. Note date for response to arrive.
3)Â If no resolution by “due date”, file a complaint in three places:
Thanks to Eddie Holt and eRate Solutions for the “head-up”!
Laura DeBaun is the Library Services Consultant and
Business Manager at NEKLS. You can reach her by email (ldebaun (at) nekls.org), phone, or on several instant messaging platforms (look Laura up by her email address). Visit the 
