Quality Assurance

The Communication Act and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) hold telephone companies liable for their agents and telemarketers. At National Access Long Distance, we uphold standards of quality on telesales to avoid fraud and error by implementing a written code of compliance-based and integrity- based ethics.

In order to guarantee that a provider-switch is ethical, every call is recorded and stored. National Access Long Distance follows the FCC guidelines for telemarketers to change a customer’s long distance provider. A provider-switch must be done either by Third Party Verification (TPV) or a Letter of Agency (LOA). Our sales are triple checked to confirm that the sale is ethical, that the authorized person in charge of the account made the change, and the sale must pass both an auditory and visual check of compliance.

Third Party Verification (TPV) is recorded 3-way telephone call that connects the consumer and vender to an independent verification company.

TPV confirms a customer’s decision to switch their long-distance carrier by following eight steps after the sales representative transfers the customer to a Third Party Verification company.

1.      The verifier will ask the sales representative to state identifying information and where they are calling from, as well as, the customers’ information.

2.      Then the verifier will ask the sales representative to clear the line.

3.      The verifier will identify his or her self to the customer and then ask if it is OK if the conversation is being recorded.

4.      If yes, then the verifier clarifies the customers’ name, his/her title, address, and phone number(s), and then ask a series of questions requiring either a yes or no response. If the customer has any questions; then, verification is stopped and the customer is transferred back to the sales representative for clarification. The maximum of three times per lead. Third Party Verifiers may never answer any questions.

5.      The customer is asked to supply authorization information, such as, the month and year of their birth to verify that they are over 18 years of age.

6.      The verifier will then supply the customer with a toll-free number of the company they have authorized service with.

7.      The verifier will ask the customer if they can call them right back, just so they can confirm that they spoke to the authorized person in charge of the account.

Letter of Agency (LOA) is a detailed written or electronic letter that is used to confirm a telemarketing order. The consumer must sign the LOA and send it back for sale to be complete.

A toll-free number must be provided to the customer, so that they can confirm the switch. Tele-sales are not processed for 48 hours in order to give the customer a chance to change his or her mind.

For quality long distance contact National Access Long Distance.

Who Is Listening in on your Cell Phone?

Most people seem to believe that the public broadcasting of an illegally intercepted cell phone conversation would be illegal.  However, the US Supreme Court has found that the First Amendment allows an illegally intercepted cell phone conversation to be shared with others when the conversation involves matters of significant public interest.  While your conversation may not be of significant public interest, it reminds us that people may be listening and taking our private information at any time. 

The Wall Street Journal has recently published allegations of the FBI being capable of remotely activating Android microphones.  While this can only be done under court orders, the capability is there and we should be aware.

All U.S. cell phone carriers are required, under Federal Communications Commission orders, to make it possible for police to locate cell phones calling 911.  This is because people with cell phones generally always carry their phone with them.  Something we forget is that the FCC regulations give the thriving market for selling personal information the exact locations at all times of more than 140 million people.  Knowing someone's location at all times adds a significant new twist to tracking information about people. 

"There are some things you don't mind other people knowing, but your location isn't one of them," said Gary Laden, a privacy program director for BBB Online, a Better Business Bureau subsidiary.

Services providers (like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile) collect data, but are not forthcoming in detailing exactly what they collect, the reasons they collect it, and their data retention policies.

Did you know that cellular phones use radio frequencies, which can be easily intercepted?  Eavesdroppers use simple devices to intercept the analog radio waves that carry wireless calls.  They can then listen to your private conversations, steal your credit card information and can even find out when you'll be on vacation to plan their evil deeds.

What is one of the greatest advantages of retaining a landline phone number?  The answer is: the security of your personal conversations. So, if you want to keep your cell phone private, choose to keep your landline.  Also, if you want to keep the cost of your landline down contact National Access Long Distance and save money on your long distance services.