[Nfbmd] FW: Directory Assistance/ Maryland Office of People's Counsel's Alert

[Steve Brand]

You can call Verizon and tell them you're blind you can get unlimited free directory assistance. 
 
--------- Original Message --------- Subject: Re: [Nfbmd] FW: Directory Assistance/ Maryland Office of People's Counsel's Alert
From: "Melissa Ann Riccobono" <melissa at riccobono.us>
Date: 10/18/13 5:18 pm
To: "'NFB of Maryland e-mail list'" <nfbmd at nfbnet.org>

Thanks for this information. Just so people know, you can get phone numbers
 free of charge by calling
 1-800-free411. That's 1-800-373-3411. You do have to listen to a couple of
 ads, and you have to talk to a machine, but it does work.
 Melissa
 
 -----Original Message-----
 From: Nfbmd [mailto:nfbmd-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Reyazuddin,
 Yasmin
 Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 3:18 PM
 To: Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland; NFB of Maryland e-mail list
 Subject: [Nfbmd] FW: Directory Assistance/ Maryland Office of People's
 Counsel's Alert
 
 
 
 Maryland Office of People's Counsel
 
 ALERT
 
 Verizon Reduces Free Directory Assistance Calls from 4 to 2 Calls
 
 Effective October 16, 2013
 
 
 
 Verizon Maryland has reduced the number of free directory assistance calls
 from 4 to 2 calls per month effective October 16, 2013 for landline (wired)
 telephone service. Each directory assistance call above 2 calls per month
 will cost $1.99 per call. This change may impact your clients, including
 Lifeline customers, if they rely on landline service and 411 Directory
 Assistance from Verizon.
 
 The Company took this action after a new law went into effect on October 1,
 2013 permitting Verizon to do this and preventing the Commission from
 denying the call reduction. The law was passed after OPC successfully
 opposed this change in two cases heard by the Public Service Commission.
 
 
 
 OPC had opposed this change for a simple reason. Even in this age of smart
 phones and broadband access, adults who are older or with lower incomes will
 be disproportionately impacted by this bill, since they are more likely than
 other adults to rely on landline phones and have the need for directory
 assistance. They will now be subject to additional expenses if they make
 more than two calls per month.
 
 These are some options for customers to obtain free Directory Assistance
 information:
 
 * Internet: www.verizon.com/white 
 
 * Hard copy residential directory: Call 800-888-8448 to obtain a
 paper or CD-ROM version of the white pages.
 
 * Physical or visual disabilities: Verizon cannot charge for
 directory assistance when these disabilities prevent a customer from using a
 telephone directory. If a customer has such disabilities, she should
 contact Verizon to get this restriction in the customer's record.
 
 If the customer with disabilities does not get a satisfactory response from
 Verizon, she should contact the Public Service Commission to make a
 complaint at 800-735-0474 or 800-735-2258 (TTY/Voice).
 
 OPC also recommends that cell phone users without data plans should check
 their cell phone plans for the cost of directory assistance calls charged by
 their cell phone providers. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yasmin Reyazuddin 
 Aging & Disability Services 
 Montgomery County Government 
 Department of Health & Human Services 
 401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
 Rockville MD 20850 
 240-777-0311 (MC311) 
 240-777-1556 (personal) 
 240-777-1495 (fax) 
 office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
 Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 
 
 This message may contain protected health information or other information
 that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
 please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this
 material. 
 
 Thank you.
 
 
 
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