Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Customers to benefit from suspension of AT&T charge for copies of long-distance bills

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Feb. 1, 2007 – Consumers stand to benefit from the suspension of a fee AT&T had begun to charge for printed copies of past long-distance bills, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the residential utility consumer advocate, said.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) suspended the $5 charge today. On Tuesday, the OCC requested that the charge be suspended, especially considering it was introduced 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.

“The suspension of this charge will at least temporarily remove an obstacle for those customers who want to receive printed copies of their past bills in order to calculate the one-time federal refund,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers’ Counsel. “Going forward, if any fees are imposed for copies of past long-distance bills, the charges should be justified by the company.”

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.

Long-distance customers do not need their old bills 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.

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.