WASHINGTON, July 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American PrePaid Phonecall Association, APPPA, announced today that they are in the process of finalizing a detailed standard for those who provide prepaid calling cards and other services for those who need an economical way to call overseas. The FTC recently announced that it filed a lawsuit against DR Phone Communications, charging that DR failed to adequately disclose additional fees in the marketing of its prepaid phone cards.
"APPPA was formed mainly for the purpose of setting industry standards to protect consumers, basically, the immigrants from all around the world," said Gustavo M. de la Garza, Chairman of APPPA. "We are adopting this week our first draft of a set of standards that will prevent the kind of marketing that is alleged in this lawsuit." Also the Chairman of Vivaro, a large provider of prepaid calling services, de la Garza said that APPPA is working with the FTC and other government agencies to make sure that consumers are provided the services that they are promised, and that all fees and terms are disclosed.
"The APPPA draft standards address the issue of fees and rates directly," said Gene Retske, Executive Director of APPPA. "APPPA has made it abundantly clear that consumers need to be fully aware of any and all fees on the products sold to immigrants and other vulnerable consumers." He said that APPPA is going to review its draft standard with consumer advocates, government regulators and others who look out for the interest of those who buy prepaid phone calling services.
Chairman de la Garza noted that the APPPA standards are the first time that prepaid phone call providers have organized for the purpose of protecting the consumers of these products and services.
"We support the efforts on the part of government regulators to protect consumers of prepaid phone call services, but the companies that create the products need to set high standards," said Retske. "That is what APPPA is about."
About APPPA
The group of industry leaders represents the majority of the prepaid calling market in the U.S. and created an association to protect the industry's interests, good name and public trust by providing best practices, and to speak with one voice for the industry and its consumers. For more information about APPPA, contact Gene Retske, Executive Director, at (202) 370-7600, extension 100, or by email, execdir@apppa.us
The American PrePaid Phonecall Association logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12043