Your long distance carrier shouldn't be switched without your knowledge. But sometimes it happens, because of a phenomenon called "slamming."

Life was simpler before the break-up of the telephone monopoly known as "Ma Bell." Maybe phone rates were higher, but at least you knew who your telephone company was.

Now, fierce competition among AT&T, MCI, Sprint and an estimated 180 smaller companies has led to beyond-shady practices to snag new customers.

It's gotten so bad that some consumers have opened their monthly phone bill and discovered that their long distance carriers -- or local service -- has been changed without their knowledge. This strange phenomenon is called slamming.

Slamming is against the law. Federal law prohibits a company from switching your long distance carrier without your authorization -- written or oral -- so some companies have stooped to new, misleading methods to get you to sign up.

Here are a few things to look out for:

• The check in the mail. If you get a check from a long distance telephone carrier, it may look as though no strings are attached. But don't cash it unless you want to be switched to that company.



• The fine print. Some offers for magazine subscriptions or free samples now contain a fine-print statement obligating you to switch to a different phone company if you return the offer.



• The worthy-cause scam. Don't sign up for a raffle or donate to a charity in a mall or at a festival. These are often tied to long distance switch schemes. It works like this: A phone company sponsors the charity. The charity keeps the money you donate, but the company gets your name, phone number and an authorization to switch you.

If you're really concerned about potential slamming, you can send your phone company a letter (or ask that it send you a form) directing it not to change your long distance carrier unless it receives a letter from you.

If you do get slammed, you should:

• Call your phone company and ask to be reconnected to your preferred local or long distance carrier. Explain that you did not order the service from the new company and that any "change charge" should be taken off your bill.



• Call your preferred long distance carrier and report the unauthorized switch. Ask to be reconnected for free.



• Call the long distance carrier that slammed you and ask it to remove all charges incurred within 30 days of the slamming. Calls after that time should be recalculated according to your preferred provider's rate.



• To verify your phone service provider, call 700-555-4141 for the long distance provider and (your area code) 700-4141 for your local toll service provider.



• If the company that slammed you refuses to cooperate, complain to the Federal Communications Commission by calling 888-225-5322 or filling out a complaint form online at http://www.fcc.gov.