Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Consumers’ Counsel requests suspension of new AT&T charge for copies of long-distance bills

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jan. 30, 2007 – The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel today will request that state regulators suspend a new $5 fee AT&T has begun charging consumers for printed copies of past long-distance bills. The fee comes at a time when many consumers may be requesting past bills to calculate a one-time long-distance telephone tax refund available through their federal tax forms. If this AT&T fee is being applied for each past bill requested by consumers, those fees could cost more than the federal telephone tax refund to which they are entitled.

The extra fee began on Jan. 22 through a notification to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

“The new AT&T charge should be put on hold by the PUCO to determine whether a charge is reasonable and, if so, the fair amount,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers’ Counsel. “Some residential consumers want to review past bills to calculate an important federal telephone tax refund. No telephone company should be allowed to impose charges for copies of past bills without justifying the amount.”

As part of a U.S. Treasury Department decision in May 2006, customers are entitled to refunds equal to the excise taxes paid on long-distance service between Feb. 28, 2003 and Aug. 1, 2006. Refunds either will reduce the amount owed by the consumer in federal taxes or increase the amount of their overall refund. The federal excise tax on local telephone service remains in effect.

Consumers do not need documentation proving that they paid the tax to receive a standard refund amount of between $30 and $60, depending on the number of exemptions claimed on their income tax return. However, consumers who believe they are owed more than the standard refund amount may base the refund on an actual calculation of the taxes they paid if they have their past bills.

The more long-distance calls made by a consumer over the past few years, the more advantageous it is to review past bills and compare the actual federal long-distance taxes paid with the standard refund amount. Consumers may choose either the standard refund amount or their own calculated refund, whichever method results in the largest refund.

Electronic versions of past AT&T bills – and those of some other telephone companies – may be available online for free and customers can contact their company for more information.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.