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Third Party Verification

When you call a telephone company to request service or if you receive a telephone call offering you a great deal if you select a different telephone company than the one you are now using, the telephone company must maintain in their records a confirmation that you indeed wanted that service. That confirmation may take the form of a signature on an LOA (Letter Of Agency - essentially the application for service) and/or a recorded message where you identify yourself by the last four digits of your social security number or date of birth, and tell the recorder that you want to change carriers and want to change to that specific carrier. This recording is carried out by an independent company, a third party, in business for themselves and not a branch or division of the telephone company. That process is called "Third Party Verification" or "TPV."

The two carriers Protel represents have different requirements. PowerNet Global (PNG) requires a recorded TPV for every new order or change in existing service. Ernest Communications requires a hand-written signature on every order or change.

Verification is a way to prevent slamming, the unauthorized, illegal switching of the telephone service provider of an individual. If you submit your PNG application by fax, even with your signature on the LOA, we will phone you and the VoiceLog verification system on a three-way conference call. If you apply for service over the telephone (the preferred way), we will do the third party verification at that time.

The recorded voice will ask you some simple questions: name, address, birth day and month (or last four digits of your social security number), if you want long distance, local toll service and agree to a credit check. Your answers are recorded to validate your request. At the end of the verification, a multi-digit number will be given which is the identification number for that verification. You will not need this number.

At least one long distance carrier had been accused of forging signatures on LOAs (see: http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/fcc00446.doc. Third Party Verification is a nuisance, but it is in your best interest and does not cost you anything. There is no charge to you for this protection.

To sign up for PowerNet Global Long distance, phone us or click here: application. To sign up for ECI service follow the links from this page to your state.

Or for faster service, call us toll free at 1-800-4-PROTEL (800-477-6835).

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Page revised June 27, 2004.

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