# What gov't agency regulates cell phone billing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203 "2010-09-01T00:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/1 "2010-09-01T00:18:42Z")
Long story short, I may be heading for a billing dispute with AT&T. They say I’m downloading hundreds of MB worth of data that I say I’m not. According to their records, this is happening about 12:30 am each day, when my phone is turned off. Their tech support people are “looking into it and will get back to you” and I think I can make a pretty good case that I’m not downloading all this stuff, but if push comes to shove I need to know who to file a complaint with at the government level. Does this come under the jurisdiction of the FCC? State Public Utilities Commission? Some other agency? I’m in Utah, if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/2 "2010-09-01T01:57:32Z")
Here, [let me help you](http://www.psc.utah.gov/). ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/3 "2010-09-01T02:17:50Z")
Since at least in theory there is competition between cell phone carriers, I always thought that they didn’t fall under the auspices of state utility commissions - but I’m too lazy to go look. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/4 "2010-09-01T02:52:26Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Here, [let me help you](http://www.psc.utah.gov/). Thanks, **Duckster** , but according to the list of TelCom utilities on their site, it looks like they only regulate land line carriers. I’m thinking since wireless companies operate nationwide that the FCC might be the place to start. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/5 "2010-09-01T02:59:39Z")
It start with the Utah Attorney General’s Office as well as the Attorney General’s Office for whatever state the cell phone company is based out of, while you’re at it, file a report with the BBB. Does AT&T have the ability to pull real time reports, or at least see today’s activity within a day or so? You might be able to go to store at 11:00 explain the problem, and let them keep your phone until 2:00 maybe even pull the battery on it. The next day when they look on their system and see the activity they’ll believe you when you tell them you weren’t using it. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/6 "2010-09-01T02:59:44Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Long story short, I may be heading for a billing dispute with AT&T. They say I’m downloading hundreds of MB worth of data that I say I’m not. According to their records, this is happening about 12:30 am each day, when my phone is turned off. > > Their tech support people are “looking into it and will get back to you” and I think I can make a pretty good case that I’m not downloading all this stuff, but if push comes to shove I need to know who to file a complaint with at the government level. > > Does this come under the jurisdiction of the FCC? State Public Utilities Commission? Some other agency? > > I’m in Utah, if that makes any difference. Usually your attorney generals office is a good place to start. Many times they have an office specifically for consumer affairs. At the very least if you send an e-mail to the AG they’ll point you to the right bureaucracy. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/7 "2010-09-01T03:11:34Z")
The FCC regulates cell phone companies Complaints can be found [here](http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm). Follow the form ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/8 "2010-09-01T03:57:52Z")
Let us know what comes of all this… ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/9 "2010-09-01T15:44:59Z")
Is it possible that your phone has been cloned? I had one cloned, but that was ~15 years ago…I don’t know if it is still a problem. It would explain why it happens when your phone is off. I don’t know what the cell companies reaction would be…probably have to pay anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-govt-agency-regulates-cell-phone-billing/552203/10 "2010-09-01T16:03:00Z")
What kind of phone is it? Haven’t some Iphone owners had problems because the phone could be turned “off” but still download data, etc?