Optic Internet Protocol faces a potential $7.62 million FCC...

Optic Internet Protocol faces a potential $7.62 million FCC fine for allegedly switching consumers’ long-distance phone services without authorization, billing customers for unauthorized charges and submitting falsified evidence to regulatory officials as “proof” of consumers’ authorizations, said an agency news release Monday (http://bit.ly/1oY2jhC). “Cheating and lying to consumers are unacceptable, predatory business practices,” said Travis LeBlanc, Enforcement Bureau acting chief. The FCC issued a notice of apparent liability to the company (http://bit.ly/1js1pfv). Optic provides 1+ dialing long-distance service, the release said. Consumers’ long-distance service was switched to Optic so long-distance calls are carried over Optic’s network and billed by Optic, the FCC said. Optic allegedly switched complainants’ preferred long-distance carriers and billed the consumers for long-distance service by placing charges for its set-up fee and recurring monthly fee on their local phone bills, the agency said. Optic typically charged customers a $3.95 or $4.95 one-time set-up fee and a monthly service fee of $4.95, $8.95 or $29.95, said the FCC. It said the agency reviewed more than 150 complaints against Optic that consumers filed with the agency, the FTC, state regulatory agencies and the Better Business Bureau. Optic wasn’t immediately available for comment.