Catherine Cortez Masto (D)
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) -Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said Monday that a dozen phone companies in the state were charging consumers for unauthorized services.
A Carson City District Court judge Monday issued a temporary injunction the 12 long distance telephone companies, which did business through a Modesto, Calif.-based company, The Payment People.
In a statement, Masto said the companies billed consumers for unauthorized long distance telephone services and conducted business without approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
She also accused the companies of falsely telling local telephone service providers that consumers had authorized the billing of services.
"These companies are alleged to be alter egos of The Payment People, which have unlimited powers of attorney to operate these companies as they see fit," Cortez Masto said. "The temporary injunction will protect Nevadans while the complaint is processed."
The companies identified in the injunction are: Universal Call Plan, Inc.; Sure Connection LD, Inc.; Long Distance Depot, Inc.; Flat Rate Long Distance, Inc.; Long Distance Mart, Inc.; Xoom Telecommunications, Inc.; Call Direct, Inc.; Call For Less, Inc.; Connect Direct LD, Inc.; Blue Sky Long Distance, Inc.; Coast to Coast Long Distance, Inc.; First Choice Long Distance, Inc.; Bundled Rate Long Distance Inc.; and Smart Dial, Inc.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.