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Five things to remember about your bills

In our first-ever “virtual utility bill clinic,” CUB members from 64 different cities across Illinois submitted their utility bills to get CUB’s unique utility-bill checkup service from the comfort of their own homes. CUB holds 400-500 events a year, but the virtual clinic was an attempt to reach people who…...

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Robocalls on the rise: tips on stopping phony callers

We asked people on Facebook if they get a lot of robocalls, and boy did we get an earful! “I get an average of 35-40 a week. Insanity!” wrote Kathleen. “I’ve had a zillion on my cellphone, all from different areas of the country, all about buying insurance,” added Susabelle.…...

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AT&T: Consumer’s Choice plans end Nov. 17

What happened? In a letter sent to consumers, AT&T announced that as of Nov. 17, 2017, the company’s Consumer’s Choice plans, Illinois’ best local phone deals, will end. Why is this happening? In July, the Illinois General Assembly passed a rewrite of the state Telecommunications Act that eliminated the requirement…...

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Tell us your landline story

How do people feel about losing their landline phone service? “They’re terrified,” Julie Vahling, AARP Illinois associate state director, said in a recent TV interview. We want to hear how YOU feel. AT&T has won state legislation to eventually end landline phone service in Illinois—but it still needs to get…...

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Disappointing: General Assembly overrides veto of AT&T’s legislation

The General Assembly has overridden the veto of AT&T’s legislation. CUB’s statement: CHICAGO, July 1, 2017—CUB is disappointed that the General Assembly has overridden the governor’s veto of AT&T-backed legislation that would eventually allow the company to end traditional landline phone service in its Illinois territory. Not only does this…...

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CUB urges governor to veto AT&T dereg bill

AT&T has passed its deregulation bill in the Illinois General Assembly, threatening the end of landline service for customers who need it for a reliable connection to 911 and other vital services. Now, CUB is turning its attention to Gov. Bruce Rauner and asking him to veto the legislation. CUB…...

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Take Action: Energy Star on the chopping block

The White House has released its official budget plan, and it calls for eliminating funding for Energy Star—an efficiency program that has cut utility bills by $430 billion. The good news: You can help win this battle by putting pressure on Congress—where there’s already bipartisan support for efficiency. For example, Alaska…...

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IL watchdogs sound the alarm on AT&T’s plan to eliminate landlines

Have you seen the headlines? This week, Illinois top consumer advocates held news conferences in seven cities across the state to fight bad legislation from AT&T. The company, which made $13 billion in profits in 2016, wants to end traditional home phone service (landlines) in its service territory—but consumer advocates…...

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AARP, IL PIRG, CUB Launch Save Our Service (SOS) Campaign

Today, AARP, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and CUB joined forces to launch the Save Our Service (SOS) campaign to block AT&T-backed legislation that would hang up on Illinois’ most vulnerable phone customers. Consumer advocates urged Illinoisans to visit SaveOurPhoneService.com to send messages to the General Assembly against AT&T’s deregulation…...

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The local phone plans that AT&T just doesn’t like

Read CUB Executive Director David Kolata’s statement on the General Assembly’s passage of a revised Illinois Telecommunications Act over the weekend. After a months-long Save Our Service (SOS) Campaign fighting Big Telecom, the revisions were a mixed bag for consumer advocates. CUB was glad that big phone companies failed in their…...

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