GILL Technologies Calls on the CRTC to Regulate Telecom Fraud

(I-Newswire) October 3, 2009 - For Immediate Release

Peterborough, ON, Canada – September 21, 2009: Sophisticated attacks on voice mail and other telecommunications systems often leave consumers owing thousands of dollars in unwanted charges. According to GILL Technologies (http://www.gill-technologies.com) president George Gill, the CRTC must protect consumers instead of allowing carriers to inflict fraud-generated fees on victims.

In a letter dated September 21, 2009, the Peterborough, Ontario based telecommunications company’s head asked the CRTC’s Executive Director for Telecommunications to investigate the issue and develop new regulations.

Under the current system, responsibility for fraudulent use usually lies with the end user. On January 2009, Burlington, ON law firm Martin and Hillyer suffered a $207,000 bill from Bell due to voice mail hacking from abroad (“Bell Canada customer billed $207,000 after hacker breach,” The Canadian Press, January 27, 2009). In August, boutique telecom wholesaler Telepath incurred over $100,000 in charges from Rogers over a similar attack ("Hackers leave Ottawa company with sky-high phone bill," Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News Service, August 17, 2009). In both cases, their carriers demanded to be paid despite the illegal, invasive cause of these bills.

In his letter to the Commission, Mr. Gill notes the following: “Beyond basic, user-centric precautions such as strong passwords, responsibility for secure telecommunications obviously rests with carriers. Under the current regime, carriers suffer a conflict of interest where preventing fraud denies them charges to levy against end users. In other words, the CRTC’s failure to regulate in this area rewards carriers for inadequate security. Currently, there’s no difference between a dollar earned on third party fraud and one earned through legitimate services.

“The current system doesn’t work. Informal resolution mechanisms waste time and money. In many cases, they don’t adequately protect end users. Therefore, I call on the CRTC to:

“1. Regulate carrier security practices, as carriers currently have no economic motive to implement best practices.

“2. Establish reasonable limits on end user and reseller liabilities for fraudulent charges.

“3. Implement a dispute resolution system that investigates and fairly distributes fraudulent charges based on each party’s actual responsibilities.”

In addition to being posted to the CRTC and MP Dean Del Mastro, (Member of Parliament for the Peterborough riding, where GILL Technologies’ Canadian office is located) GILL Technologies will post the letter in full on its blog at http://www.gill-technologies.com/TelecommunicationsBlog. GILL Technologies encourages Canadians to research this issue and contact the CRTC and their local MPs. To contact GILL Technologies for any clarifications, information or other business, email info@gill-technologies.com or call 877-507-6988 toll-free.

About GILL Technologies

Established in 2000, GILL Technologies provides a "Total Communication Solution" for businesses of all sizes. Clients range from small businesses simply looking to save on their communications costs to large enterprises that want comprehensive solutions. Over 3000 clients across North America bear witness to the effectiveness of GILL Technologies’ products and services.

Find out more about GILL Technologies’ communications services through its no-risk, money saving Cost Auditing service at http://www.gill-technologies.com/CostAudit.php

Contact Details:
GILL Technologies
Street: 150 King St, 5th Floor
City: Peterborough, ON
Country: Canada
Zip Code: K9J 2R9

Telephone NO: (p) 877.507.6988
(fax) 866.369.5661
Email: info@gill-technologies.com
Web Site: http://www.gill-technologies.com

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About GILL Technologies:
GILL Technologies

Company Contact Information
GILL Technologies
GILL Technologies
150 King St, 5th Floor
5th Floor
K9J 2R9
Phone : 8775076988