You've probably seen the ads for "free" Internet service trial periods. Maybe you've even received a CD-ROM in the mail that promises hundreds of hours of free Internet service.
If you're in the market for Internet service, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants you to know that some "free" offers may end up being high cost, long-term items. That's because important restrictions and conditions on these offers are not always disclosed clearly or conspicuously.
Most offers for "free" Internet service are valid for only one month. At the end of the "free" month, many providers automatically sign you up for their service, unless you cancel at the end of the free month. Unfortunately, you may not know that you have to cancel because some service providers hide this information - or don't tell you how to cancel should you want to.
Costs add up in other ways, too. For example, if you sign up for service and the Internet service provider (ISP) doesn't offer a local phone number for you to dial in to, you'll have to pay long distance telephone charges to access the Internet. Some ISPs offer a "toll free" (800, 888 or 877) number to connect to the Internet. The FTC has found that some consumers have been charged five or six dollars an hour to use a "toll free" number.
FTC officials caution consumers to ask the ISP some key questions about their service and related conditions before using any "free" offers.
If you think you've been misled about an offer of free Internet service, contact the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.